General Motors on Monday said its sales in China last year rose 66.9% to a record 1,826,424 units. Market share was a record 13.4%, up 1.3% year on year.
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The company cited “bullish” sales of Buick, Chevrolet and Wuling vehicles and said results were boosted by record December sales at its Shanghai GM and SAIC-GM-Wuling joint ventures and the addition of sales from its new FAW-GM joint venture.
“We are proud of our performance in 2009,” said GM China Group president and managing director Kevin Wale.
New product launches last year included the Buick LaCrosse and Regal turbo series; the Chevrolet Cruze; and the Cadillac SLS and SRX. New engines were added to the Chevrolet Spark and Cruze lines.
Domestic sales by Shanghai GM rose 63.3% to 727,620 units in 2009 with launch brand Buick rising 59.6% year on year to 447,011 units. The Excelle, which sold 241,109 units, remained the brand’s bestseller for the sixth consecutive year.
Chevrolet sales rose 67.1% to 332,774 units.
SAIC-GM-Wuling became the first automaker in China to sell more than 1m vehicles in a year, increasing its domestic sales by 63.9% to 1,061,213 units. With sales of 596,630 units, the Wuling Sunshine set a Chinese industry record for annual sales by a single model.
FAW-GM sold 34,510 light commercial vehicles in the four months after its establishment in August 2009 and began construction of a new assembly plant in Ha’erbin.
Wale is optimistic about 2010. “Despite the sales records in 2009, it looks as if 2010 will be even stronger. The industry outlook is strong and we expect more growth, albeit on a somewhat slower pace.”
