GM China H1 sales up 48.5% to 1.21 mln vehicles

Shanghai, July 2 (Gasgoo.com) General Motors's China sales in the first half of the year grew 48.5% from a year earlier to 1.21 million vehicles, surpassing those in the U.S. for the first time in the carmaker's 102-year-old history, media reported today, citing the carmaker's latest figures.

In the first six months, China sales by GM and its local joint ventures totaled 1.21 million vehicles, topping U.S. deliveries of 1.08 million, according to figures reported separately by the Detroit-based company. GM's June sales in China rose 23% from a year earlier to 176,486 units, the company said today.

GM's flagship car venture in China, Shanghai GM, makes vehicles including Buick Excelle and Regal cars, and its mini-commercial vehicle venture SAIC-GM-Wuling produces Chevrolet Spark sub-compacts and Wuling Sunshine minivans. Over half of GM China sales are achieved by the three-way Wuling venture.

Sales at Shanghai GM rose 18.9% in June from a year earlier to 71,782 units, the statement said. Sales at SAIC-GM-Wuling reached 99,115 units in June, up 19.7%. FAW-GM Light Duty Commercial Vehicle Co., which was set up in August last year, sold 5,220 units in June.

GM aims to boost its annual sales in China to 3 million vehicle by 2015 from 1.83 million in 2009. The company estimates its China sales will top 2 million this year, and plans to introduce 25 new or updated models in the country by the end of 2011 to boost sales.

Boosted by government stimulus measures, China saw its vehicle sales jump 46% last year to 13.6 million units, surpassing the U.S. to become the world's largest auto market.