The Sunshine minivan is China’s best-selling vehicle for eight consecutive years.
General Motors had a record sales month in China in January, as GM’s two largest manufacturing joint ventures new monthly highs for vehicle sales in the world’s largest auto market of more than 18 million vehicles.
It’s a continuation of GM’s strong performance in China during 2010, where it sold more cars and trucks than it did in the U.S.
GM and its joint ventures sold 2,351,610 vehicles in China during 2010. GM has been the sales leader among global automakers in China for six consecutive years.
GM and its government required joint ventures sold 268,071 vehicles in China in January, an increase of 22% from the January of 2010. GM’s previous monthly sales record of 230,038 vehicles was set in March 2010.GM ended January with an estimated market share of 14.7% in China.
Domestic demand for Shanghai GM’s lineup of passenger cars reached 131,944 units, an increase of 46% from January 2010. Sales in China of SAIC-GM-Wuling’s line of mini-vehicles rose 10.6% to 132,658 units. FAW-GM, GM’s light-duty commercial vehicle joint venture, sold 3,334 vehicles in China.
Buick sales in China totaled 70,441 units, growing 50.3% on an annual basis, far outpacing Buick’s sales of 13,269 in the U.S. Demand for the Excelle passenger car line was up 92.7% from January 2010, at an all-time high of 44,492 units.
Chevrolet sales in China rose 36.9% from January 2010 to 67,711 units. Chevrolet was led by the continued strong performance of the Cruze lower sedan at 24,225 units, and the New Sail small car family, which began its second sales year with record monthly sales of 16,429 vehicles.
Cadillac sales were 2,530 units, largely on the SRX luxury utility vehicle, which accounted for more than 60% of Cadillac demand in January.
Wuling sales, which increased nearly 10% on an annual basis to 123,920 units in January, were once again led by the Sunshine minivan – China’s best-selling vehicle for eight consecutive years – and the Rong Guang minivan. SAIC-GM-Wuling sold 66,330 Sunshines and 38,057 Rong Guangs.
