If Chinese sales more than double in the next decade – and it’s a good bet - China would dominate GM’s volume in a way unheard of since GM had almost 60% share in the U.S. market in 1960.
General Motors and its communist government mandated joint ventures in China sold 257,944 vehicles in March, and 745,152 vehicles in the first quarter of 2012, setting both March and quarterly sales records. In the U.S., GM sales were just over 608,000 for Q1. Toyota, the only other global automaker to post March sales, said they were up 2.2%.
Compared to March 2011, GM sales were up 10.7%, making for the second highest for any month in GM’s history in China. For the first three months, GM China sales increased 8.7%, the best quarter since GM began doing business in China.
During 2011, GM sold more than 2.5 million vehicles in China, making it the sales leader among global automakers operating in China for seven consecutive years.
Shanghai GM’s domestic sales increased 10.5% on an annual basis to 110,038 units. SAIC-GM-Wuling’s sales in China increased 11.6% year on year to 139,768 units. FAW-GM’s domestic sales in March totaled 7,417 units. Sales at all three of these GM joint ventures were up from the previous month.
Demand for Buick products rose 3.7% on an annual basis to a March record 57,082 units, compared to only 13,105 Buicks in the U.S., which was a decline of -16% during the period. Buick in China was led by the Excelle, up 25.4% to 24,134 units, and the Excelle XT and GT, which had atonal sales increase of 22.7% to 14,064 units.
“GM has maintained our growth in our largest market in 2012, despite an overall industry slowdown,” said Kevin Wale, president and managing director of the GM China Group.
Shanghai GM’s domestic sales increased 10.5% on an annual basis to 110,038 units. SAIC-GM-Wuling’s sales in China increased 11.6% year on year to 139,768 units. FAW-GM’s domestic sales in March totaled 7,417 units. Sales at all three GM joint ventures were up from the previous month.
Demand for Buick products rose 3.7% on an annual basis to a March record 57,082 units. The brand was led by the Excelle model, whose sales jumped 25.4% to 24,134 units, and the Excelle XT and GT, which had a collective sales increase of 22.7% to 14,064 units.
Chevrolet sales in China rose 11.1% year on year to a March record 54,716 units. The New Sail was the brand’s best-selling model, with demand for the sedan and hatchback rising 55.5% to 20,085 units. The Cruze remained a popular model as well, with sales growing 7.7% to 18,678 units. Sales of the Malibu totaled 4,289 units in its first full month on the market.
Cadillac sales increased 35.2% on an annual basis to a monthly record of 2,745 units. The SRX accounted for 2,143 of the luxury brand’s unit sales.
Wuling sales in China were up 9.9% on an annual basis to an all-time monthly record 130,251 units. The Baojun brand had sales of 5,012 units in its first March on the market.
