GM China Jan-May sales exceed one million vehicles

Shanghai, June 1 (Gasgoo.com) GM, which makes vehicles in China mainly with local partner SAIC Motor, sold more than one million vehicles in the country in the first five months, half of its 2 million sales target for this year, Xinhua News reported, citing company's top executive.

At the ceremony of delivering this year's 1 millionth vehicle on May 28, Kevin Wale, president and managing director of GM China, said GM became the first global automaker in 2007 to sell more than one million vehicles in the Chinese market, and this year GM China achieved this volume in the first five months.

Sales of Buick, Chevrolet and Cadillac cars made by GM's flagship car venture Shanghai GM have been a major contributor to GM's sales growth in China. In the Chinese market, GM has seen growing interest in its new car models, the Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet New Sail and Buick Excelle XT.

Growth in China's vehicle sales have slowed since March after sales peaked in the fourth quarter of last year. Market demand also became flat after the central government reduced incentives for car buyers. But GM is still confident of achieving its 2 million-unit sales goal this year, Wale said.

GM, the biggest international carmaker in China, has decided to launch 25 new and upgraded models in China by 2012. Its minivan venture, SAIC-GM-Wuling, has also unveiled plans to raise annual output at its Liuzhou plant by 33% to 800,000 units by 2012.

General Motors aims to boost sales by 50% to 3 million vehicles in China by 2015 despite a recent slowdown in the auto industry. It sold 1.83 million cars in the country last year.