SHANGHAI, China — General Motors and its local partners sold a record 1,826,424 vehicles in China in 2009, pushing the automaker's market share in the country to 13.4 percent. GM's sales in China jumped 67 percent from the previous year, driven in part by the strength of the Wuling-brand minivehicles produced by the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture.
Also showing remarkable strength in China — even as it languishes in its home market — is GM's Buick brand, which was driven by the introduction last year of the new LaCrosse and Regal sedans. The launch of the Cruze also helped boost the fortunes of Chevrolet.
GM China boss Kevin Wale observed: "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."
The Shanghai GM joint venture sold 727,620 vehicles last year, up 63 percent from 2008. Of that total, Buick accounted for 447,011 sales, up nearly 60 percent from the previous year.
Chevrolet sales jumped 67 percent, to 332,774 units. Far and away the most popular brand, however, was Wuling, which racked up sales of 1,061,213, spearheaded by China's best-selling model, the Wuling Sunshine microvan.
Inside Line says: A day without Wuling is a day without Sunshine... — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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