SAIC says vehicle sales expect to break 230,000 units in 2011

Shanghai December 27 (Gasgoo.com) SAIC Motor Corp. (600104.SH), aims to boost sales to 230,000 vehicles next year, or at least break the 200,000-unit mark, gzdaily.dayoo.com reported Monday, citing Jiang Jun, Deputy General Manager of SAIC's Passenger Car division.

As China's largest car maker by sales volume, SAIC has gained itself a significant foothold in all vehicle segments with the Roewe 550, 350, MG6 and other models. The automaker showcased the new MG3, an A0-level car, as well as the MG6 sedan based on the Roewe 550 sedan at this year's Guangzhou Auto Show.

Sales of the MG-branded vehicles are likely to exceed 60,000 units in 2011, while the Roewe brand is expected to sell over 150,000 units next year, Jiang said.

The automaker said last week its own brand vehicle sales will surpass 160,000 units this year, up 78% compared to 2009, according to caijing.com.

Greatly satisfied with the performance, Jiang, however, said SAIC's target market is the mid-to-high end vehicle segment after all, so the company will still hold a prudent and optimistic attitude towards the market in the following year.

In addition, Jiang said sales of the Roewe 550 stood at 82,000 units this year and at about 10,000 units in December, while the Roewe 350 is estimated to sell more than 9,000-10,000 units this month, adding that more models will be launched in the domestic market next year.