SHANGHAI – SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW) sold its
1 millionth vehicle this year in China for the fourth consecutive year.
It is the earliest the General Motors China joint venture has reached
the milestone. In 2011, SGMW sold its 1 millionth vehicle in October.
Through the first eight months of 2012,
SGMW sold an average of 3,500 vehicles every day, up 15.2 percent from
the same period in 2011. Domestic sales of its Wuling mini-commercial
vehicles this year have surpassed 934,000 units, giving the brand about
50 percent of the segment. SGMW also offers passenger cars under the
Baojun brand.
SGMW was established in 2002 by GM China,
SAIC and Wuling Motors. It has been actively expanding its commercial
and passenger vehicle portfolio while boosting its overseas business.
“Our priority is meeting the basic needs
of our customers, wherever they may be,” said Yang Jie, general manager
of SAIC-GM-Wuling Sales Co. “We are responding to the rapidly changing
marketplace by consistently improving the competitiveness of our product
lineup.”
In 2010, SGMW introduced its mainstream
model – the Wuling Hong Guang – which has sold a cumulative 400,000
units in China. In July of this year, SGMW launched the upgraded Wuling
Rong Guang minivan equipped with a new 1.5-liter engine and a range of
added amenities.
In 2011, SGMW began rolling out the Baojun
brand, starting with the 630 midsize sedans. This year, it has expanded
the choice of engines and transmissions in the 630. Last month, the
Lechi mini-car was added to the Baojun portfolio. SGMW’s Liudong
passenger car production base will begin operation Nov. 18, boosting the
joint venture’s annual manufacturing capacity by 400,000 units.
SGMW has also expanded its sales outside
China. In July, GM Egypt began production of the Chevrolet Move, which
is based on the Wuling Rong Guang in China, from kits supplied by SGMW.
