General Motors said on Monday that it has launched its third vehicle making joint venture in China by producing a new minivan, Reuters reported.
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According to Reuters, GM said in a statement that its mini-truck and minivan joint venture with China’s SAIC-Wuling, announced in June, had begun rolling out the seven-seat Wuling Sunshine which will sell for 40,000 yuan to 50,000 yuan ($US4,800 to $6,000).
The Sunshine is based on a Wuling chassis with technological enhancements from another GM joint venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry (Group) Corp (SAIC), GM China spokeswoman Daphne Zheng told Reuters.
According to Reuters, GM said the Sunshine, with a choice of a 1.3- or 1.05-litre petrol engines, was aimed at the upper end of the minivan market in second- and third-tier Chinese cities. It would go on sale immediately in some parts of China, Reuters added.
The mini-van could eventually be exported under the venture’s plans to expand overseas sales, especially to Southeast Asia, Reuters said.
GM bought a 34% stake in Guangxi province-based SAIC-Wuling this year, Reuters added, noting that it also has a $1.5 billion plant in Shanghai with SAIC which makes Buick sedans and compacts, plus a venture in northern China making higher-end SUVs and Buick trucks.
Reuters said the new venture, SAIC-GM-Wuling Automotive Co Ltd, is China’s eighth largest vehicle maker and already builds a mini-van for a bargain $3,000.
