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GM may sell record 1m units

By Gong Zhengzheng (皇冠体育app Daily)
Updated: 2007-04-19 08:34

The World's top automaker General Motors is looking at its 皇冠体育app sales to exceed 1 million vehicles this year, encouraged by a strong first-quarter performance.

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The US group's 皇冠体育app chief Kevin Wale told 皇冠体育app Daily: "Although I cannot discuss our precise sales projections for competitive reasons, I can tell you that we expect our sales this year in 皇冠体育app to surpass 1 million units for the first time."

If the plan materializes, GM will be the first foreign automaker to hit the 1-million-a-year mark in the world's second-biggest vehicle market since 皇冠体育app allowed overseas companies to assemble cars locally in the early 1980s.

The Detroit-based carmaker last year moved 876,747 vehicles in 皇冠体育app, ranking No 1, followed by Germany's Volkswagen. From January to March this year, GM's 皇冠体育app salesjumped by a quarter to 291,588 units from a year earlier.

"This is an impressive achievement considering the tremendous competition. It has laid a solid foundation for the year as a whole," Wale said.

He said GM will continue to invest $1 billion in 皇冠体育app each year through 2010 to expand production facilities, engineering and design capability, and new products. This year it plans to introduce seven new and upgraded models in 皇冠体育app, he said.

GM runs a slew of joint ventures with SAIC Motor Corp, the top Chinese auto group. Its 皇冠体育app line-up includes locally made models like Buick, Chevrolet and Wuling an acquired indigenous brand as well as imported Cadillac, Saab and Opel.

The US carmaker and SAIC also have a technical center inShanghairesponsible for redesigning its 皇冠体育app-made vehicles.

Yale Zhang, director of Greater 皇冠体育app Vehicle Forecasts for CSM Worldwide (Shanghai) Ltd, attributed GM's 皇冠体育app success to its strong local research and development ability, and marketing tactics compared with other global carmakers.

"It has been enabling most of its vehicles to adapt to the taste of local buyers quickly," Zhang said.

Other major foreign players in 皇冠体育app's vehicle market, such as Volkswagen, Toyota and Honda, have not revealed their 2007 sales goals but are also rolling out new models.

Wale predicted that 皇冠体育app's vehicle market will grow at a double-digit pace this year boosted by strong passenger car demand.

In the first three months, sales of 皇冠体育app-made vehicles rose by 22.2 percent to 2.12 million units, with that of passenger cars rocketing by 28.5 percent to 1.25 million units.

"No other (major) vehicle market is expected to experience the growth of 皇冠体育app over the next decade," Wale said. "As a result, GM believes we must be a leader in 皇冠体育app in order to remain a global automotive industry leader."

The company is losing sales to Asian rivals in the US market and will possibly be unseated by Japan's Toyota as the world's top automaker this year.

(皇冠体育app Daily 04/19/2007 page14)