GM expects China sales to top 3 mln units in 2015

Shanghai, April 12 (Gasgoo.com) General Motors expects to sell more than 3 million vehicles in China in 2015, Kevin Wale, president and managing director for GM's China operations, said today, media reported.

As the largest foreign automaker in China, GM plans to introduce 25 new or updated models in the nation in 2010 and 2011 as it seeks to maintain leadership in the world's biggest auto market, Bloomberg reported today. The models will include the Chevrolet Volt plug-in car in 2011.

GM boosted Chinese sales 68% from a year earlier to 230,048 vehicles in March, compared with U.S. sales of 188,546. This year GM China aims to sell over 2 million vehicles, up from 1.83 million in 2009, with more than half of the sales still to be achieved by SAIC-GM-Wuling. GM expects its annual sales in China to exceed 3 million units in 2015.

Last month in China, sales of Buick, Chevrolet and Cadillac cars made by GM's flagship car venture Shanghai GM grew 89% to 86,967 units, and mini-vehicle venture SAIC-GM-Wuling saw sales grow 43% to 129,489 units. FAW-GM, GM's newly formed light-truck venture with FAW Group, sold 13,200 vehicles last month.

China overtook the U.S as the world's largest auto market last year as government incentives for smaller, more fuel-efficient cars boosted demand. Auto sales in China jumped nearly 72% to 4.61 million units during the first quarter, with passenger car sales up 76% to 3.52 million units.