GM expects its '10 China sales to top 2 mln vehicles

On the back of robust sales growth in 2009, General Motors expects to sell more than two million vehicles in China this year, Kevin Wale, head of GM's China operations, said recently, media reported.

In 2009, GM's sales in China soared 67 percent to 1.83 million units, boosted by government's stimulus measures including sales tax cuts for small vehicles. The incentives are continuing this year. Last month, GM and its joint ventures sold 219,192 vehicles in China, up 97 percent from a year earlier.

Mr. Wale said he expects the US automaker's sales in China to increase faster than the overall Chinese market, which he believes will rise 10 percent to 15 percent this year from a year earlier. He said sales at GM's mini-van joint venture, SAIC-GM-Wuling, will continue to grow this year by launching new models.

Shanghai GM, a flagship car venture between SAIC and GM, sold 90,202 units in January, boosted by its new mid-to-high class sedans Buick Regal and Buick LaCrosse. GM's mini-commercial vehicle venture SAIC-GM-Wuling sold 119,969 units in January, up 59.6 percent year-on-year.

GM has said that it will continue to invest heavily in the Chinese market. Those investments will include new products, new capacity and R&D. It has planned to roll out 30 new or revamped models in China from 2009 to 2014.