GM and JVs Set Sales Record in China in 2008

7 January 2009

General Motors and its joint ventures sold 1,094,561 vehicles in China in 2008. This is a record for GM in China and the second consecutive year that its sales in what has become the company’s second-largest market topped 1 million units.

Domestic sales of vehicles from GM’s SAIC-GM-Wuling mini-commercial vehicle joint venture rose 17.9% last year to 647,296 units, keeping SAIC-GM-Wuling atop the segment for the third consecutive year. The Wuling Sunshine minivan was China’s best-selling vehicle in 2008 and the first to surpass 400,000 units in sales in a calendar year.

Domestic sales by Shanghai GM, GM’s passenger car joint venture, totaled 445,709 units in 2008. Sales were down from 2007 due to limited new model introductions. Shanghai GM will be completely renewing its product portfolio over the next few years, starting with the recently released Buick New Regal and Buick Enclave, and the recently announced Chevrolet Cruze.

Sales of the Chevrolet brand in China grew 15.7% to 199,155 units, and sales of the Wuling brand grew 17.4% to 606,499 units.

GM and its joint ventures completed several important projects, including the expansion of SAIC-GM-Wuling’s plant in Qingdao and Phase II of its Liuzhou West Plant. In addition, Shanghai GM (Shenyang) Norsom Motors’ second vehicle manufacturing plant opened and its first Chevrolet Cruze rolled off the production line on 17 December.

GM and its joint ventures also moved forward on other key programs, including construction of Shanghai GM’s proving ground in Anhui province, SAIC-GM-Wuling’s new engine plant in Qingdao, and the GM Asia Pacific and GM China Headquarters and Center for Advanced Research and Science in Shanghai.

While we expect vehicle sales in China to remain steady in 2009, we anticipate China remaining the world’s fastest-growing major market over the next decade.

—Kevin Wale, President and Managing Director of the GM China Group