General Motors sales have increased 47% in the first half of this year (1-6/06). General Motors and it's joint ventures sold 453 832 cars compared to year ago.

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. Group (SAIC), China's most profitable auto maker, rose 49.1 percent in the first half to 201,901 units.

Volkswagen and it's joint ventures posted healthy growth of 30.2 percent for the period, as sales rose to 345,375 vehicles.

PSA Peugeot Citroen's Chinese venture said its vehicle sales rose 38 percent in the first half to 100,173 units, again crediting the rise to new models.

Overall vehicle sales have risen 30.84 percent to 2.97 million units in the first five months of the year, with car sales up 44.2 percent to 2.11 million units.

Automaker Shanghai General Motors taps Compuware Covisint to connect to hundreds of suppliers worldwide
Traverse City, MI — August 10, 2006 — Compuware Corp. today announced a three-year contract between Shanghai General Motors (GM) and Compuware Covisint. Covisint will provide messaging and integration services for Shanghai GM and hundreds of its suppliers based in Asia, North America, Europe and Latin America.
"Shanghai GM, which was recently ranked No. 1 by the Chinese government for business applications, has suppliers worldwide using multiple technologies, and we all need to securely communicate and transact business with each other," said X.Q. Zhang, chief information officer of Shanghai GM. "Covisint provided our entire supplier community with the visibility, integration and control it needed — overnight."
Compuware Covisint is a strategic IT partner for General Motors and Shanghai GM. Covisint's platform provides a unique combination of standards-based, any-to-any messaging, secure portal, application sharing and industry-specific software services to connect and integrate automotive trading partners. Initially, Covisint will establish connectivity and supply chain visibility across Shanghai GM and its supplier communities that support power-train and vehicle assembly operations. Covisint's platform is also expected to provide local technical support and training to Shanghai GM.
"The automotive industry faces globalization challenges, such as combining new markets with mature markets. For forward-thinking companies like Shanghai GM, this creates tremendous opportunity," said Bob Paul, president and chief operating officer of Compuware Covisint. "Covisint's global platform enables Shanghai GM to go beyond 'bits and bytes efficiencies' and turns supply chain collaboration into a competitive advantage."
Shanghai GM was established in June 1997 and is a 50-50 joint venture partnership between the world's largest automaker, General Motors, and one of China's largest passenger sedan manufacturers, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. Group (SAIC). Shanghai GM produces and markets vehicles, engines and transmissions.
http://www.sdcexec.com/article_arch.asp?article_id=8920

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - General Motors Corp.'s (GM.N: Quote, Profile , Research) flagship venture in China said on Monday it plans to export 10,000 of its Chevrolet Lova compact cars to Ukraine in its largest export deal to date, to tap the potential of the Eastern European market.

Shanghai GM, the Detroit giant's tie-up with top Chinese car maker Shanghai Automotive Co. (600104.SS: Quote, Profile , Research), also makes Buick and Cadillac models in China.

Several Chinese carmakers are pursuing ambitious plans to boost exports, although GM has said its joint ventures would remain focused on the China market.

Sales of the Chevrolet Lova have topped 60,000 since its debut in the world's second-largest auto market in March 2006, the venture said in a statement.



It added that about 70,000 of the 1.4 and 1.6 litre engines designed for the Chevrolet models would be sold to South Korea.

http://investing.reuters.co.uk/news/articleinvesting.aspx?type=tnBusinessNews&storyID=2007-05-14T050537Z_01_SHA202075_RTRIDST_0_BUSINESS-GM-CHINA-UKRAINE-DC.XML

nice ya man
cool

Actually it will be China's biggest vehicle proving ground when completed.

------------------------------------------------

"Shanghai General Motors Co Ltd said it plans to invest 1.6 billion yuan (US$213 million) to build China’s largest and most comprehensive vehicle proving ground in Anhui Province. GM’s flagship manufacturing joint venture in China signed a letter of intent on the project yesterday with the Guangde County government.

The Shanghai GM Guangde Vehicle Proving Ground, which will cover 5.6 square kilometers, will be used to develop new models and carry out test operations for Shanghai GM and GM’s Pan-Asia Technical Automotive Center engineering and design joint venture. The facility will have 60 kilometers of test roads, a high-speed bowl and other tracks. The proving ground will be capable of testing up to 140 vehicles simultaneously under a full range of real-world situations. It is expected to log 20 million kilometers of test drives a year."

- Shanghai Daily -

By Xiao Qin
2007-11-12ww.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2007/200711/20071112/article_337704.htm

The "personal mobility concept" — clean, sustainably powered small or micro vehicles — will be featured in the joint corporate Expo pavilion of the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp Group (SAIC) and General Motors Corp.

SAIC and its joint venture partner GM have submitted the theme statement for their pavilion that will present cutting-edge technologies and concepts. The emphasis is on flexible personal urban transportation in keeping with the Expo theme "Better City, Better Life."

SAIC-GM will present the sustainable personal mobility concept and a modern transportation system that puts the environment in the forefront and improves the quality of city dwellers' lives.

The personal mobility concept envisions an emerging class of clean-energy vehicle, such as solar-powered cars, that takes single-person transport to a new level. It's a hot trend in the automobile industry.

"GM has participated in a number of global expositions dating back to the 1933 Chicago World's Fair," said Kevin Wale, president and managing director of the GM China Group.

"We look forward to working with SAIC to re-create the magic of those past events and making our corporate pavilion one of the most popular and talked about at World Expo Shanghai 2010."

SAIC Chairman Hu Maoyuan said, "SAIC and GM are proud to be extending our relationship into the important area of corporate social responsibility."

Source: Auto News
General Motors will produce a hybrid car in China beginning in 2008. The model will be available for the Beijing Olympics in August, says Martin Murray, manager of Asia-Pacific hybrid engineering for GM Asia Pacific. The launch date and model have not been announced.

Murray would not say what the production volume will be, but demand for hybrids in China is tiny. Hybrids use gasoline or diesel engines along with one or more electric motors to power the wheels.

The Toyota Prius is the only hybrid assembled in China. Assembly from kits began in December 2005. Toyota sold only 2,000 in 2006.

Despite the small sales, GM doesn’t "want to be lagging behind Toyota," says Harry Zhao, China powertrain analyst for CSM Worldwide. "They want to prove to the Chinese customers and government that they have" hybrid technology. CSM forecasts that only 14,000 hybrid powertrains annually will be produced in China by 2013. The biggest barrier to hybrid sales in China is cost, Zhao says. Government incentives that reduce the cost would boost hybrid sales, he adds.

GM China’s hybrid model will carry the automaker’s four-cylinder Ecotec engine, which is already produced in China, Murray says. In the United States, adding hybrid technology to the Ecotec engine adds $2,000 (14,816 yuan) per car, he says. GM sources parts such as the castings and pistons for that engine locally, says Michael Bly, GM engineering director for hybrid vehicle integration and controls. It imports the electric motor, the power inverter module and the battery for the hybrid powertrain. The software that makes the engine, transmission and battery work together is produced by GM, Bly says.

As for worries about intellectual-property theft, he says: "It’s more than just the manufacture of individual components. It’s how you execute it."

Many other automakers in China are planning to launch hybrid models in the next few years. Among them are Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp., which partners with GM in China; Chery Automobile Co.; Ford partner Chongqing Changan Automobile Co.; Volkswagen AG; and Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group.

CSM forecasts that eight hybrid models will be available in China next year. CSM’s Zhao says that by 2013, more than 10 hybrid models will be available in China.

General Motors Achieves New Milestone in China. First Global Automaker to Sell 1 Million Vehicles in Single Year.

General Motors became the first global automaker to sell 1 million vehicles in China in a single year today when GM China Group President and Managing Director Kevin Wale handed the keys to a Buick Park Avenue to Mr. Zhang Jianping at Shanghai GM's corporate showroom in Shanghai.

"Becoming the first global manufacturer to sell 1 million vehicles in China is a demonstration of the strength of our product, our people and our partnerships," said GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner. "China is a very important market, and we're extremely proud of the contribution we have been able to make to the growth and development of its automotive industry. It's been an extremely beneficial relationship for both sides."

GM sales in China first surpassed 100,000 units annually back in 2002. Since then, GM sales have enjoyed steady growth, topping 500,000 annual sales in 2005, thanks to its growing lineup of brands and vehicles. The milestone million mark featured GM's best-known and strongest brand in China, Buick.

"I'm extremely honored to be the one millionth customer in 2007 for General Motors," Mr. Zhang said. "This is my second Buick and I appreciate the performance, safety and durability of Buick. In addition, I was very satisfied with the fuel economy of my first car. After comparing other products in the premium segment for my next car, it made perfect sense to choose the Park Avenue."

"From day one, GM and our partners have been committed to continually rolling out new and upgraded models, with specific engineering done in China for China to satisfy the needs of Chinese vehicle buyers across the country," Wagoner added.

This year, GM and its joint venture partners have begun offering several new products, including the Cadillac SLS luxury business sedan, Buick Park Avenue premium sedan, Chevrolet Captiva SUV, all-new Chevrolet Epica intermediate sedan and Wuling Hong Tu minivan.

According to Wagoner, reaching the new sales mark in 2007 is especially significant as it is taking place in a year in which GM has celebrated several milestones in China. Both Shanghai GM, the automaker's flagship manufacturing joint venture, and the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC), GM's engineering and design joint venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), marked their 10th anniversaries earlier this year. SAIC-GM-Wuling, GM's mini-vehicle joint venture, also celebrated its fifth anniversary.

source: Autoblog, Dec 22nd 2007

Shanghai GM sales top 500,000 units in 2007.

January 3, 2008 – Shanghai GM becomes the first passenger vehicle company to sell over 500,000 vehicles a year, leading car sales in Chinese market for three consecutive years.

Chevrolet vehicles, the fastest growing brand of Shanghai GM, sold 160,500 units, which represents an increase of 56.4 percent from one year earlier. The Buick brand sold 332,000 vehicles, an increase of 27,800 units from a year earlier.

Shanghai GM's best selling model, Buick Excelle sold 16,000 vehicles a month on average. Shanghai GM's premium sedan Park Avenue and Buick LaCrosse together sold 77,000 units in 2007.

Also, Shanghai GM sold 7,040 units Cadillac in 2007, of which Cadillac SLS accounted for 62 percent of the total. The late-comer Saab also saw sales of 618 units, up 87 percent year on year.

It is worth noting that the Shanghai GM, a 50:50 joint venture company between SAIC Motor Corp and GM, sold 429,329 vehicles in the first eleven months, but it sold more than 70,000 units for December alone, a remarkable achievement for any automaker in China.

source: Gasgoo.com

General Motors sold 1.03 million vehicles in Chinese market.

January 10, 2008 – General Motors has sold 1,031,974 vehicles in Chinese market in 2007, up 18.5 percent from one year earlier, the company announced today.

Shanghai GM sold 479,427 vehicles in domestic market (not including exports), up 16.9 percent from one year earlier. Buick, Shanghai GM’s best selling brand, sold 332,115 vehicles, of which the most popular Excelle sold an impressive amount of 197,072 vehicles. Shanghai GM also sold 42,000 GL8 MPV vehicles.

In luxury car segment market, Shanghai GM sold 77,000 Park Avenue and Lacrosse vehicles, 7,040 Cadillac and 618 Saab vehicles.

In minivan segment, SAI-GM-Wuling, a joint venture in which General Motors holds a 34 percent stake, sold 548,945 vehicles, up 20.1 percent from one year earlier. The best selling model, Wuling Sunshine sold a surprising amount of 367,744 vehicles, the best selling model in Chinese market.

source: Gasgoo.com

Buick Enclave is coming to China.

GM's hot-selling Buick Enclave luxury crossover SUV will be imported to Chinese market this October, auto website cheshi.com reported.

The arrival of Enclave, Buick's first luxury crossover to be sold in China, will complete Buick's product lineup in Chinese market. Currently Buick’s portfolio in Chinese market includes the Park Avenue, LaCrosse, Regal and Excelle sedans, GL8 executive wagons. The crossover SUV model will be equipped with a 3.6L V6 engine and a 6-speed transmission.

GM has signed the deal to bring the Buick Enclave to China via its Shanghai partner, SAIC. SAIC group plans to deliver 5,000 Enclaves per year, and these vehicles will be sold through 400 Buick dealerships across China.

Buick is one of the most well-known automobile brands in China. Last year, Buick sold more than 332,117 units in China, a 9 percent increase over 2006.

http://img.autohome.com.cn/2007/1/23/23-17-38-56-495386182.jpg
http://img.autohome.com.cn/2007/1/23/23-17-38-52-554328908.jpg
http://img.autohome.com.cn/2007/1/23/23-17-39-30-906529990.jpg


Article at Autohome:
http://www.autohome.com.cn/news/200802/33677-1.html

G.M. brings 4 Cadillac CTS models to China, priced $52,000-$77,000.

March 19, 2008 - Shanghai General Motors will introduce four Cadillac CTS models to Chinese market via importation in efforts to gain a bigger share in China's booming luxury car market, the company announced yesterday.

Priced between RMB370,000 ($52,000) and RMB 550,000 ($77,640), the 2008 Cadillac CTS will come to China in four editions, including two 2.8L and two 3.6L models.

"China’s luxury vehicle market has experienced an annual growth of more than 50 percent since 2005, much faster than the industry average," Ding Lei, General Manager of Shanghai GM told Shanghai Securities News.

In 2007 Cadillac sales rose around 30 percent globally, while the growth in China is 150 percent from the previous year, making China the fastest growing market across the world.

Earlier this year GM unveiled the 2008 Cadillac CTS at the Detroit Auto Show. For the first time, the 2008 CTS will be available in both rear- and all-wheel-drive configurations. Additionally, the transmission lineup now consists only of six-speed units – an Aisin six-speed manual or – new for CTS – a Hydra-Matic 6L50 six-speed automatic.

The 3.6L High Feature (HF) V6 will feature direction injection and is good for over 300 HP on regular gasoline. It'll be backed by GM's new 6-speed automatic.

The 2.8L VVT engine will be available only on rear-drive export models of the CTS. The all-aluminum, 60-degree DOHC, four-valve-per-cylinder engine develops 210 horsepower (156 kW) at 6500 rpm and 194 lb.-ft. (263 Nm) of torque at 3200 rpm.

more at:
http://www.autohome.com.cn/news/200803/35350.html


http://img.autohome.com.cn/2008/3/18/18-22-40-17-113310777.JPG

source: Gasgoo and autohome

Cadillac sales surge 149% in Chinese market.

March 21, 2008 –Cadillac sales in China rose 149 percent to 4,028 vehicles in 2007, making China one of the fastest growing markets for this world class luxurious car.

"China is likely to become Cadillac’s second largest market worldwide after the United States this year,” said Ding Lei, general manager of Shanghai General Motors, adding that Canada is Cadillac’s another fastest growing market.

Cadillac’s global sales manager John F. Howell said the Chinese market has an enormous potential for Cadillac vehicles. He also revealed that Cadillac sold 190,000 vehicles in North American market last year and 25,000-30,000 vehicles in markets outside North America.

Shanghai General Motors announced last week to introduce four Cadillac CTS models to Chinese market via importation in efforts to gain a bigger share in China's booming luxury car market.

Priced between RMB370,000 ($52,000) and RMB 550,000 ($77,640), the 2008 Cadillac CTS will come to China in four editions, including two 2.8L and two 3.6L models.

"China’s luxury vehicle market has experienced an annual growth of more than 50 percent since 2005, much faster than the industry average," Ding Lei, General Manager of Shanghai GM told Shanghai Securities News.

http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/5959/Cadillac-sales-surge-149-in-Chinese-market.html

GM brings 42 models to 2008 Beijing Auto Show.

April 3, 2008 - As the 2008 Beijing international auto show is approaching, global automakers will be gathering in Beijing in April. As one of the auto industry giant, General Motors (GM) will display 42 vehicle models, including 6 concept models along with its China joint ventures,at this year's Beijing auto show.

On the evening of April 19, GM will first launch its Buick Invicta in Beijing. This will be the second time for GM to choose China as the location to open its first ceremony for concept cars globally, following Buick Riviera launch in last year's Shanghai auto show.

The luxury sports sedan Cadillac, which was just launched in China, blends "art and technology" as the visionary design idea and has become one of the fashionable cars in NorthAmerica. Camaro, acting Bumblebee in the movie "Transformers," will also come close to GM's consumers in China.

At this auto show, GM will also present its advanced eco-friendly technology in the power propulsion system through the three stars of the E-Flex electrification platform family --- Cadillac Provoq, Opel Flextreme and Chevrolet Volt.

Meanwhile, the 3.6 liter SIDI (spark ignition direct injection) engine, one of the world's top ten engines, will also showcase GM's advanced technology in the existing internal combustion engine segment.

In addition, Shanghai General Motors Co.,Ltd and SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile Co., Ltd, (SGMW), GM's joint ventures in China, will also bring Buick LaCROSSE Eco-hybrid, Saab 9-3 series and two "black turbine wheel" commemorative models -- Saab Turbo X and Saab 900 as well as the self-developed models of the Wuling brand, among others. Another imported brand Opel will have an all-new model at this auto show.

At this Beijing auto show General Motors will present its global lead in futuristic design, power technology, and environmental protection. It will continue to apply these latest ideas, technology and design to its Chinese-made products, manufacturing and customer services. Thus GM can better fulfill its long-term China strategy of "in China, with China, for China."

source: http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/6053/GM-brings-42-models-to-2008-Beijing-Auto-Show.html

Shanghai GM launches new models to boost sales.

April 9, 2008 - In a month before the 2008 Beijing auto show in later April, Shanghai GM will have launched several all-new models like the Cadillac CTS, Chevrolet Aveo, and Buick Excelle. By unveiling more new models to the public, the carmaker aims to sell 250,000 vehicles in the first half of 2008 to defend the title of China's auto sales champion.

Although only a limited number of new models have been launched by Shanghai GM up to now this year, the company will integrate the production of its famous brands. As a great contributor to Shanghai GM's sales volume, Buick Excelle is seen as a decisive factor behind the company's achievement in the whole year of 2008.

The new Excelle equipped with a retuned chassis will have better maneuverability and more configurations. It will use the engine and gear box of the old Excelle model. The Excelle model can sell 200,000 units a year, but it remains to be seen whether it is able to repel the challenge of the VW Sagitar and Lavida vehicles.

In addition to the few new models mentioned above, Shanghai GM is set to launch several other models later this year for the auto market in 2009. The company has already started to integrate the Opel production platform. And in early 2009 the remodeled Opel Insignia will also be locally built for the Chinese market and will be carrying the Buick brand.

The Buick Enclave, a seven-passenger crossover SUV popular in the U.S., will also be made in China later this year, to be the second Buick SUV after Chevrolet available in the Chinese market. Opel Corsa and Opel Zafira will be introduced to China for local production in 2009, likely to carry the Chevrolet brand.

If Shanghai GM can reach its sales target in the first half of this year, its all-out effort to launch new models will pay off and help it capture a larger market share in 2009.

source: Gasgoo.com

Shanghai GM to launch new Chevrolet Sail in two years.

April 29, 2008 - The new Chevrolet Sail model will be launched within two years, said Ling Hai, vice sales manager of Shanghai GM Chevrolet marketing department, at the 2008 Beijing auto show. He also showed a strong affection for Chevrolet top sedan Camaro.

In 2001, Buick Sail went on sale and was then called a “100,000-yuan family car” in China. In 2005, the Sail brand was replaced by Chevrolet and new models were launched. At the beginning of 2008, Sail’s production came to a halt.

Ling Hai said the new Chevrolet Sail model is now at the R&D stage, but two more years is needed for its delivery to the market. The R&D institutes of Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) and General Motors will both cooperate on the new Sail model.

Chevrolet concept car Camaro, playing the role of bumblebee in "Transformers," has been on display for many times in China. According to the GM project plan, Camaro may be mass-produced in 2008.

"This model will represent a good brand promotion if introduced to the China market by mass-production version. Its individual design different from the usual passenger car will appeal to large consumers in our country,” said Ling Hai with strong interest.

It is known that Camaro’s production version will use the global Zeta platform of GM. Camaro will be possibly locally produced thanks to this platform which also has produced Buick Park Avenue in China. But according to Ling Hai, whether to be made locally depends on the final quantity, and the first batch of Camaro cars for the Chinese market should be imported.

source: Gasgoo.com

Over 400,000 Chevrolet cars sold in 40 months in China.

May 14, 2008 - In the past 40 months since it moved into China, the Chevrolet brand of Shanghai GM has sold 413,274 units. It has achieved the remarkable glory of selling 10,000 units on average each month, as a top brand to be deep-rooted in the Chinese market.

The Chevrolet brand was launched into the Chinese market on January 18, 2005 and sold nearly 80,000 units that year, more than 100,000 units in 2006, and 160,000 units in 2007, an increase of 52% year on year. The sales growth of the increasingly popular Chevrolet brand has been gaining momentum each month.

As an important growth model of the Chevrolet brand, the "premium family sedan" Chevrolet Lova got off to a good start in the first month of 2008 by selling 11,299 units and creating a monthly sales record of Chinese joint venture sedan models. In 2007, the Chevrolet Lova and Chevrolet Aveo cars sold a total of 98,486 units, up 83% over 2006 (y/y), and the two models also sold 47,075 units in the first four months of 2008, increasing more than 80% year on year, highly above the average sales growth in the sedan segment.

The all-new Chevrolet Aveo is a premium sedan that was launch at the end of March 2008. Its 1.2-liter S-TEC II engine, which is new to the Aveo family, generates the highest power (53.1 kW/l) and yet has the lowest fuel consumption (4.7 liters of fuel per 100 km at a constant speed of 90 km/h) of any vehicle in its class. The engine fully complies with China's new National IV emission standard and is designed to operate at a higher compression ratio, producing greater power than many similar-size engines.

The Chevrolet Epica, a new-generation mid-class sedan of the Chevrolet brand, also exceeded its sales goal in 2007 by selling 41,702 units in the year, up 66% over 2006. From January to April, the upgraded Chevrolet Epica sold a total of 17,501 units, up 58.3% year on year, further strengthening this Chevrolet car's leading position in the mid-class vehicle market.

source: Gasgoo.com

Chevy sales top 500,000 in China, GM says.

May 23, 2008 - General Motors Corp. announced recently that sales in April pushed the Chevrolet brand past 500,000 units in China since the brands introduction in 2000.

Collective sales of Chevrolet vehicles through the end of April totaled 519,110 units.

More than 400,000 of the vehicles sold came from Shanghai GM, a 50-50 joint venture between GM and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. Group.

"Chevrolet, GM’s most popular global vehicle brand, is one of our mainstream brands in China alongside Buick," said Kevin Wale, President and Managing Director of the GM China Group. “Chevrolet’s portfolio in the small to intermediate segments has grown in line with rising demand among consumers.”

The current Chevrolet lineup in China includes the Lova small car, Aveo small car, Epica intermediate sedan, Spark mini-car and Captiva compact utility vehicle. In China, Chevrolet targets Chinese young professionals who want a vehicle mainly for personal use.

From:freep.com

GM's China CV venture exports minivans to Peru.

July 17, 2008 - General Motors Corp.'s (GM) China commercial vehicle joint venture has begun exporting its Chevrolet N200 minivans to Peru, GM ( China) Investment Co. said in a statement on Thursday.

The statement didn't specify when the first batch of exports were made or the volume of exports.

This marks the first time that GM is exporting its China-made mini-commercial vehicles to Latin America, the statement said.

Chevrolet N200 minivans are made and sold in China by SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile Co., a commercial vehicle joint venture between GM, SAIC Motor Corp., and Wuling Automobile Co., a company based in China's southern Guangxi province.

Last year, Shanghai General Motors Corp., a 50-50 passenger car JV with SAIC, exported its Chevrolet Sail line of small cars to Chile.

From: Dow Jones

Buick prepping new small sedans for U.S. and Chinese markets.

General Motors’ sales in North America may have tanked but the carmaker’s performance in other regions, especially emerging markets such as Eastern Europe, South America, India and China, is booming. Of all the new markets, the one with the most potential is proving to be China. It’s now the single biggest market for Buick and local design teams are now responsible for a range of new models that will even be sold in the U.S.

Confirmed for production will be a new midsized sedan based on the recently revealed Invicta Concept (pictured). Expected to replace the current LaCrosse, the FWD sedan will be sold in both the U.S. and China concurrently. You can see spy shots of the car in our previous story by clicking here.

A second, smaller sedan is in also contention. Due for the 2012 model year in China, GM is considering bringing the car to North America as well, reports Automotive News. The car will be based on the FWD Delta platform and could potentially be produced in both countries.

The range-topping Buick Lucerne was scheduled to be redesigned for the 2011 model year, but due to several issues with the car’s economy and efficiency it will have to make do with minimal updates until it’s dropped from GM’s lineup – likely to be when it fails to comply with Federal fuel economy regulations.

Another model that has been scrapped is the production version of the stunning Riviera concept. The decision to cease development was made due to financial limitations. The Buick Enclave, meanwhile, will soldier on unchanged for several years at least and is expected to pick up a two-mode hybrid drive option around 2011 along with the rest of the Lambda range of vehicles.

http://www.motorauthority.com/cars/general-motors/buick-prepping-new-small-sedans-for-us-and-chinese-markets/

GM brings ASEP program to China for tech training


October 13, 2008

Shanghai, October 13 (Gasgoo.com) Last Saturday, Shanghai General Motors, GM's joint venture in China, announced it has launched the GM Automotive Service Educational Program (ASEP) in the country for the first time, an educational partnership with a carefully selected local college to produce more talents for the booming aftermarket business.

Executives from Shanghai GM and Chiway Holding Group signed the cooperation contract at the Wuxi South Ocean College of Chiway, where seven brand new Shanghai GM-produced vehicles were handed over to the college on the site.

"This is the first time we 'transplant' GM's successful experience overseas to China, and we'll localize the application," said Mr. Sun Xiaodong, deputy general manager of Shanghai GM, adding that the whole Chinese auto aftermarket is seriously short of qualified talents.

The educational partnership between Shanghai GM and Chiway is a GM-specific training program designed to upgrade the technical competency and professional level of the students, who are incoming technicians of GM dealerships. The curriculum designed by Chiway's faculty reflects the current Shanghai GM technology and the future technology trends. Shanghai GM will also provide training components and training aids.

"Just like Build-to-Order education, this program will significantly improve the capabilities of our graduates," said Mr. Qian Jianrong, Chairman of the board, Chiway Group. He is discussing more possible alliances with other automakers in China. "I hope we can grow into China's No.1 supplier of automotive industry human resources," he added. Up to the date, Chiway has set up nine automotive service technician training programs in China.

According to Application & Service Committee of SAE-China, there are approximately 3 million auto repair workers in China, but there should be 20 million aftermarket workers to meet the growing market demand.

http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1008013/GM-brings-ASEP-program-to-China-for-tech-training.html

GM to produce Volt in China in 2011

October 17, 2008 - General Motors (GM) will introduce its EREV (extended range electric vehicle) Chevrolet Volt to China for production by 2011 to meet the Chinese market demand, Nanfang Daily reported, citing Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman of product development.

Bob Lutz said, Chinese elements were well considered in the design of Chevrolet Volt, which indicates the electric automobile has entered a new stage. And China will be a big market for electric vehicles.

It is reported that Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in series hybrid vehicle by GM, is expected to begin production in 2010.

The vehicle is designed to run purely on electricity from on-board batteries for up to 64km. With the use of a small internal combustion engine driving a generator to resupply the batteries, the vehicle's range is potentially increased to 579km on the highway (and which can be extended for very long trips by conventional refueling).

Bob Lutz said that Volt, different from the traditional electric vehicles, surely will have a huge market as it solves customers’ concern about driving distance. But the low availability of electric auto parts for the car’s volume production will lead to high price of the first generation Volt.

Bob Lutz is confident about the prospects of the electric vehicles. He said GM has lagged behind Toyota which has promoted its hybrids like Prius for several years. GM sees it unacceptable to lose the first. The world’s biggest auto maker is making efforts to develop vehicles without using gas from now on.

source: Gasgoo.com

GM may use profits from China to float North American operations.

October 24th, 2008 - Big Bob Lutz said that GM declaring bankruptcy is "out of the question." Of course, that was two years ago, when things like a $25 billion government loan would have sounded ludicrous. That was also before the auto industry mess got messier, and in order to stay true to those words today, GM is doing whatever it has to do to find money to stay in business. It heard Chrysler has an $11 billion piggy bank and a couple of jewels (Jeep and minivans) and GM said "Come here, girl! Lemme holla at you for a minute!"

Now GM is looking at its own international stable, and has its eye on China as a source of stopgap revenue for its North American operations. We've posted before on the fact that GM's international operations aren't doing too badly, and GM China sold 11.5 million vehicles last year -- more than any other manufacturer there. This year, it expects China sales volume to grow by 11- to 12-percent, and that means yuan in the bank.

Lutz said of the China move, "We do not rule out such a possibility under current conditions." These are hard times, but -- just like the good ones -- they're temporary, and GM just needs a little help to get to payday. Using money from one of your branches makes perfect sense to us. What doesn't make perfect sense is that China will get the Cruze the same time as Europe, in early '09, while we in the U.S. have to wait years in line for a car that we've been screaming for. Ah, GM, what are we going to do with you?

from Autoblog

SAIC profit falls 78% as China GM venture loses share

October 30, 2008
SAIC Motor Corp., China's biggest automaker, said third-quarter profit fell 78 percent as its venture with General Motors Corp. lost market share and the country's industrywide sales growth slowed.

Net income fell to 260.8 million yuan ($38 million), or 0.04 yuan a share, from 1.17 billion yuan, or 0.178 yuan, a year earlier, the Shanghai-based company said in a statement to the city's stock exchange today. Sales fell 6 percent to 24.3 billion yuan.

SAIC's vehicle sales growth slowed to 9 percent in the first nine months, from 24 percent a year earlier, as customers shunned its aging Buick Excelles in favor of Toyota Motor Corp. Corollas. The country's overall auto sales also dropped for the first time in three years in August and September because of the Beijing Olympics, a slower economy and a plunging stock market.

"Demand for cars is falling and that hits companies like SAIC,'' said Qin Xuwen, an analyst at Orient Securities Co. in Shanghai. "Still, next year may be better, as their GM venture should turn around with the addition of new models.''

GM was surpassed as the second-biggest overseas carmaker in China in the first nine months by Toyota. Volkswagen AG, ranked first, also has a venture with SAIC.

Smaller margins

Chinese carmakers face smaller margins as they slash prices to win customers, while paying more for raw materials. The country's prices for cold-rolled coil steel, used in cars and appliances, averaged 6,822 yuan a ton in the third quarter, or 38 percent higher than a year earlier, according to Beijing Antaike Information Development Co.

Automakers are offering discounts because of slower demand and rising competition. Car sales rose 11 percent in the first nine months, compared with a 22 percent increase for the whole of last year. Average car prices may fall as much as 3 percent this year, Cheng Xiaodong, head of the vehicle-price monitoring arm of the National Development and Reform Commission, said earlier this month.

SAIC has plunged 81 percent this year in Shanghai trading, compared with a 69 percent plunge for the benchmark CSI300 Index. The stock dropped 2.7 percent to 5.02 yuan today before the earnings announcement.

http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1008205/SAIC-profit-falls-78-as-China-GM-venture-loses-share.html

Great read. Very informative post.

GM opens eighth Chinese plant

12/17/2008 - General Motors announced the opening of its eighth Chinese joint-venture plant, a two-shift facility in the northeastern China city of Shenyang that will produce the Chevrolet Cruze for Asian markets. The automaker, which is struggling to stay afloat, says it has no plans to add further capacity to its worldwide production facilities.

The $390 million Shenyang plant will be capable of building up to 150,000 vehicles. Kevin Wale, GM China’s president, told Bloomberg that he is confident with the long-term capacity for the plant, despite the recent global downturn in the markets.

“[GM is] building capacity for the long term and we are very comfortable with what we are doing,” Wale said.

GM plans to sell up to 1.2 million vehicles in China next year. The new Shenyang plant, like all formed by foreign investors, is a joint-venture with a local company - Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, or SAIC, in this case.

The new plant will be fully operational by the second quarter of 2009, GM says

http://www.leftlanenews.com/gm-opens-eighth-chinese-plant.html

are these information legitimate.?
what about validity of this information?

Sales of General Motors in China up by 6% compared to 2007, Buick China sales down 7%

Jan 6th, 2009 - One of the refrains we've all heard in recent years is how strong Buick is for General Motors in China, where it's not cursed with the stigma of being a grandparent's brand in the States. While most of yesterday's attention was rightly focused on the industry-wide year-end U.S. sales bloodbath, Shanghai Daily reports that 2008 was a bummer for GM's joint venture with SAIC in China.

Shanghai GM ended up down 7% versus 2007, with analysts saying that its new cars, like the freshly-updated Buick Excelle, didn't deliver the goods in terms of styling, price, or fuel economy. Hence, buyers reportedly turned to the VW Jetta and Toyota Corolla instead. Shanghai Daily points out that Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Saab all showed growth in China last year, so the overall Shanghai GM decline essentially gets laid at the feet of Buick. Now, it'll be interesting to see how 2009 plays out. GM is hoping that the Chevy Cruze can help get things back on track in the People's Republic (and everyplace else, for that matter) when it arrives sometime in Q2, joining other key Shanghai GM newcomers like the Buick Regal.

Shanghai GM's disappointing 2008 performance was part of a broader growth slowdown for the General in China. When factoring in the rest of its joint ventures, GM's China sales were actually up 6% overall. But that's a significant dropoff from the double-digit sales gains exhibited in preceding years -- 19% in '07, and at least 27% in the each of the four years prior to that, according to Bloomberg. With so many consecutive years of explosive sales growth, things were probably bound to level off as car shoppers transformed into car owners. Whether GM's influx of new models planned for this year and beyond stokes the sales fires in China again is a story that we'll follow throughout '09.

source: Autoblog

More reading:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=afQwNY5V5Ltk&refer=home

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200901/20090106/article_387037.htm

General Motors: Restructuring Should Have Minimal Impact on GM China.

Even while General Motors slashes factories, jobs, dealers, brands and products as it tries to avert bankruptcy, the automaker said its business in China will not be affected by its restructuring plan in the U.S.

The automaker reiterated the importance of the Chinese market in its global strategy and said business and key projects in China will proceed as scheduled.

"With expanding vehicle sales in China, GM remains profitable, which helps us to support the development of new programs and business with self-funded capital," GM China said in a statement.

The company issued the comment after earlier media reports said GM would sell stakes in its major Chinese passenger-car ventures with Shanghai Auto to ease its liquidity crunch.

GM said five new models will be launched under its Chevrolet and Buick brands in China within two years. By the end of this year, more than 13 new models will have been introduced, including the new Buick Regal and Chevrolet Cruze sedans. The product upgrades will also cover other brands including Cadillac, Opel, Saab and Wuling, GM's mini-vehicle affiliate.

GM also said construction of its $292 million tech center and the $250 million GM Campus, which will house its China and Asia Pacific headquarters, will proceed as scheduled.

Although sales have cooled in recent months, China's auto market — unlike many others overseas — has not plunged. In fact, it has been one of the few markets to help GM battle against a global sales slump.

GM said it sold 111,282 units in China in January, a rise of 3.3 percent. Last year, its sales expanded by 6 percent in China, the slowest pace since 2000.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=142409

Leaked GM document shows automaker plans to sell China-built cars to U.S. consumers

A planning document given to lawmakers by General Motors reportedly shows that the Detroit-based automaker plans to ship 17,335 autos from China for sale in the U.S. in 2011. If GM succeeds in importing vehicles to the U.S. from China, it could be the first automaker to do so.

The document doesn't show which vehicle would be brought over from the land of the Great Wall (we'd take the Buick Regal, above), but it does provide GM's volume plans through 2014. By that time, GM plans to triple its China to U.S. exports to 51,546 units. While 51,546 sounds like a lot of cars, it only represents 1.6% of the planned 3.1 million (perhaps optimistic) sales the General is expecting five years from now.

Regardless of the quantity of vehicles coming in from China, union leaders are none too pleased with the development, says Automotive News. The 12-page document also showed increased production in Mexico, with annual units rising from 317,763 in 2010 to 501,316 in 2014. South Korea, which will likely make new vehicles like the Chevrolet Spark, will increase production from 36,967 in 2010 to 157,126 in 2014. In an open letter, UAW legislative director Alan Reuther has gone on record saying that GM "should not be taking taxpayers' money simply to finance the outsourcing of jobs to other countries."

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/12/report-gm-plans-to-sell-china-built-cars-to-u-s-consumers/

China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) issued a statement late Monday saying it would approve US automaker General Motors Co.'s (GM) plan to buy part of parts supplier Delphi Corp, but set conditions on...http://autos.globaltimes.cn/china/2009-09/473167.html

OnStar tallies 1,000th subscriber in China

Just two months after launching in the Chinese market, General Motors’ OnStar telematics system has tallied its 1,000th subscriber. OnStar launched in the Chinese market in December of last year.

Although OnStar first became available in the United States in the fall of 1996, the telematics service is just beginning to surface in GM’s China offerings. The service is currently available in the Buick Enclave and Cadillac SLS, but will expand to cover other 2010 Cadillac, Buick and Chevrolet models by year’s end.

China’s version of OnStar includes many of the same features as its U.S. counterpart – including Automatic Crash Response, Automatic Airbag Response, Emergency Services, Remote Door Unlock, Remote Horn and Lights, Roadside Assistance, Stolen Vehicle Location, Good Samaritan, Turn-by-Turn Navigation, Destination Download Assistance, OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics, On-Demand Vehicle Diagnostics, Hands Free Calling, and Point Of Interest Assistance – but does not offer Stolen Vehicle Slowdown.

“We are so proud to be able to bring these great services to the people of China.” said Chris Preuss, OnStar president. “We’ve responded to hundreds of thousands of requests for assistance over the years in North America, and we look forward to extending that same level of safety, security and peace of mind to our Chinese subscribers as we continue to expand.”

OnStar is available in more than 50 GM models worldwide.

http://www.leftlanenews.com/onstar-tallies-1000th-subscriber-in-china.html

GM and SAIC unveiled a trio of EN-V concepts that showcase the automaker's idea for a new global, urban mobility vehicle.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/24/gm-en-v-concept-futuristic-urban-transportation/

PRESS RELEASE

GM Unveils EN-V Concept: A Vision for Future Urban Mobility

o Radical Change in Mobility to Address Growing Urbanization Issues
o Convergence of Electricity and Connectivity Redefines Automobile DNA
o EN-V Concepts to be Showcased at World Expo 2010 Shanghai

Shanghai – By 2030, urban areas will be home to more than 60 percent of the world's 8 billion people. This will put tremendous pressure on a public infrastructure that is already struggling to meet the growing demand for transportation and basic services.

General Motors and its strategic partner, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. Group (SAIC), share a common vision for addressing the need for personal mobility through a radical change in personal urban transportation. They are exploring several solutions for tomorrow's drivers. Among the most promising is a new vehicle form called EN-V.

A Promising Solution

EN-V, which is short for Electric Networked-Vehicle, maintains the core principle of personal mobility – freedom – while helping remove the motor vehicle from the environmental debate and redefining design leadership. EN-V is a two-seat electric vehicle that was designed to alleviate concerns surrounding traffic congestion, parking availability, air quality and affordability for tomorrow's cities.

Three EN-V models were unveiled today in Shanghai. They represent three different characteristics that emphasize the enjoyable nature of future transportation: Jiao (Pride), Miao (Magic) and Xiao (Laugh). The concepts will be showcased from May 1 through October 31 at the SAIC-GM Pavilion at World Expo 2010 Shanghai. Shanghai is expected to become one of the epicenters for the establishment of personal mobility solutions for the future.

"EN-V reinvents the automobile by creating a new vehicle DNA through the convergence of electrification and connectivity. It provides an ideal solution for urban mobility that enables future driving to be free from petroleum and emissions, free from congestion and accidents, and more fun and fashionable than ever before," said Kevin Wale, President and Managing Director of the GM China Group.

Breakthrough Technology

EN-V's platform has evolved from the platform of the Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility (P.U.M.A.) prototype that was developed by Segway and debuted in April 2009. Segway has worked collaboratively with GM to develop and deliver multiple copies of the drivetrain platform that seamlessly connect to and power the various EN-Vs.

EN-V is propelled by electric motors in each of its two driving-mode wheels. Dynamic stabilization technology empowers EN-V, giving it the unique ability to carry two passengers and light cargo in a footprint that's about a third of a traditional vehicle. It can literally "turn on a dime" within its own operating envelope. In addition, everything in EN-V is drive-by-wire, supporting its ability to operate autonomously or under manual control. The motors not only provide power for acceleration, but also bring the vehicle to a stop.

Power for the motors is provided by lithium-ion batteries that produce zero emissions. Recharging can occur from a conventional wall outlet using standard household power, allowing EN-V to travel at least 40 kilometers on a single charge. EN-V can also improve the efficiency of the public electric infrastructure since the vehicle can communicate with the electric grid to determine the best time to recharge based on overall usage.

By combining the Global Positioning System (GPS) with vehicle-to-vehicle communications and distance-sensing technologies, the EN-V concept can be driven both manually and autonomously.

Its autonomous operating capability offers the promise of reducing traffic congestion by allowing EN-V to automatically select the fastest route based on real-time traffic information. The concept also leverages wireless communications to enable a "social network" that can be used by drivers and occupants to communicate with friends or business associates while on the go.

This combination of sensing technology, wireless communication and GPS-based navigation establishes a technology foundation, pieces of which could migrate from the EN-V concept and potentially lead the way to future advanced vehicle safety systems.

The ability to communicate with other vehicles and with the infrastructure could dramatically reduce the number of vehicle accidents. Using vehicle-based sensor and camera systems, EN-V can "sense" what's around it, allowing the vehicle to react quickly to obstacles or changes in driving conditions. For example, if a pedestrian steps out in front of the vehicle, EN-V will decelerate to a slower and safer speed and stop sooner than today's vehicles.

GM has been a leader in developing autonomous vehicle technology, having worked alongside students and faculty at Carnegie Mellon University in the U.S. city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This collaboration created "The Boss" Chevrolet Tahoe, which brought autonomous vehicle operation to life in 2007. EN-V takes the lessons learned in "The Boss" and offers mobility to people who could not otherwise operate a vehicle.

"The EN-V concept represents a major breakthrough in the research that GM has been doing to bring vehicle autonomy to life," said Alan Taub, Global Vice President of GM Research and Development. "The building blocks that enable the autonomous capabilities found on the EN-V concept such as lane departure warning, blind zone detection and adaptive cruise control are being used in some GM vehicles on the road today."

EN-V has been designed for the speed and range of today's urban drivers. It weighs less than 500 kilograms and is about 1.5 meters in length. By comparison, today's typical automobile weighs more than 1,500 kilograms and is three times as long. In addition, today's automobiles require more than 10 square meters of parking space and are parked more than 90 percent of the time. EN-V's smaller size and greater maneuverability mean the same parking lot can accommodate five times as many EN-Vs as typical automobiles.

Smaller, Smarter Design

While EN-V leads the way in terms of efficiency and technology, it also sets a new benchmark for vehicle design. For its debut, GM had design teams around the world provide their vision of what future mobility will look like. Xiao (Laugh) was designed by GM Holden's design team in Australia, while the look of Jiao (Pride) was penned by designers at GM Europe and Miao (Magic) was designed at the General Motors Advanced Design Studio in the U.S. state of California.

Each EN-V has a unique design theme to showcase the flexibility of the propulsion platform. The design gives each EN-V its own personality, with a unique opening, elegant interior and innovative color, lighting and seat technology. Xiao offers a more lighthearted appeal, with its "gumball blue" paint and nautical-inspired design. Miao takes most of its design cues from the consumer electronics industry, as evidenced by its sleek, masculine looks. Designers also used Miao to display innovative lighting solutions, including extensive use of LED accent lighting. With its clean lines and bright paintwork, Jiao takes its design influence from bullet trains and Chinese opera masks.

"EN-V incorporates significant technology and material innovation, which has given the design team a whole new world to explore," said Clay Dean, Director of Advanced Design for GM North America. "Because of the lightweight structures, materials and integrated controls, we created unique surface forms not traditionally found in automotive applications."

The body and canopy of EN-V are constructed from carbon fiber, custom-tinted Lexan and acrylic, materials that are more commonly used in race cars, military airplanes and spacecraft because of their strength and lightweight characteristics. The ability to work with such innovative materials provided a learning opportunity for GM's design teams to study the feasibility of future traditional automotive applications.

EN-V's compact size makes it ideal for use in densely populated cities thanks to its use of advanced safety and propulsion technologies. But good things come in small packages, as witnessed by EN-V's innovative interior design, which provides maximum visibility to the world outside. A simple interface for activating Wi-Fi-based technologies keeps occupants connected to the outside world.

"The future of how we move around in urban areas like Shanghai can combine the best of personal mobility and public transit. There is a better solution and it is called EN-V. It demonstrates that we have both the knowledge and the ability right now to create a way to move people that not only ensures a 'better city' but also offers people a 'better life,'" said Taub.

http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/envconceptsgm.jpg

Gallery:
http://green.autoblog.com/gallery/gm-en-v-concept-0/

GM’s First-Half China Sales Surge Past the U.S.

General Motors Co.’s first-half sales in China surpassed those in the U.S. for the first time as the world’s fastest-growing major economy propelled global auto demand.

Sales in China by GM and its joint ventures totaled 1.21 million vehicles in the six months ended June 30, topping U.S. deliveries of 1.08 million, based on figures reported separately by the Detroit-based company. This would be the first time any overseas market has “consistently outsold” GM’s domestic market in the carmaker’s 102-year-old history, said Michael Albano, a Shanghai-based spokesman.

Surging demand among China’s 1.37 billion people is speeding automakers’ recovery after a recession cut global auto sales last year and forced GM’s predecessor, General Motors Corp., into bankruptcy. GM is counting on expansion overseas to bolster profit as it prepares for an initial public offering as early as the fourth quarter.

“China is one of GM’s bright spots globally,” said John Zeng, a Shanghai-based automotive analyst at IHS Global Insight. “GM has done a better job in the Chinese market than other American automakers. The huge potential in this market will continue to fuel GM’s growth here.”

Government stimulus measures helped China’s industrywide vehicle sales jump 46 percent last year to 13.6 million, surpassing the U.S. for the first time to become the world’s largest national automobile market. U.S. auto sales fell 21 percent to 10.4 million, the fewest since 1982, as unemployment rose amid the worst recession in six decades.

China Venture Partners

GM makes vehicles including Buick Excelle and Regal cars as well as Chevrolet Lova compacts with its Chinese joint-venture partner SAIC Motor Co. It also makes Sunshine minivans at SAIC- GM-Wuling Automotive Co.

The SAIC-GM-Wuling venture’s deliveries, which are included in GM’s monthly sales reports, are excluded from tallies by some industry analysts because GM owns 34 percent of the venture, while SAIC Motor has a 50.1 percent stake.

GM and its partners aim to boost vehicle sales in China to 3 million a year by 2015 from 1.83 million in 2009, Kevin Wale, president of the carmaker’s China business, has said. The company estimates it will top 2 million sales in the country this year.

GM’s June deliveries in China rose 23 percent from a year earlier to 176,486 units, the carmaker said today. The company plans to introduce 25 new or updated models in the country by the end of 2011, including its Chevrolet Volt plug-in car, it said in April.

Energy Subsidy

GM’s four ventures with SAIC Motor Corp. were among companies approved for a Chinese government energy-efficiency subsidy, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said on its website today.

Full-year auto sales in China may rise 17 percent this year to 16 million, according to the State Information Center, even as growth may slow in the second half.

The rate of expansion in auto demand slowed in April and May as prices for gasoline, consumer goods and real estate rose. The government raised the consumption tax on small vehicles to 7.5 percent in January after cutting it in half to 5 percent last year.

In the U.S., GM and Ford Motor Co. reported June sales that fell short of analyst estimates as consumers concerned about unemployment and the economy avoided large purchases. A 9.7 percent jobless rate and continued lower home prices have reduced consumers’ confidence and are keeping them out of showrooms, dealers and analysts said.

Home Market

GM’s sales in its home market last month rose to 195,380, an 11 percent increase from a year earlier, which trailed the 16 percent average growth estimate of six analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.

Industrywide U.S. deliveries in June reached an annualized rate of 11.1 million vehicles, according to Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey-based Autodata Corp. The figure trailed the average estimate for an 11.2 million-vehicle pace and is a drop from 11.6 million in May.

GM’s predecessor entered bankruptcy on June 1, 2009, and the new company emerged in July 2009. The carmaker reported first-quarter net income of $865 million this year, helped by higher production and smaller discounts. Chief Financial Officer Chris Liddell on May 17 called the profit a “good, useful step” toward an IPO.

The automaker’s equity is worth $70 billion, according to a May 20 report by Eric Selle, a JPMorgan Chase & Co. debt analyst who projects a return of 47 cents on the dollar for holders of bonds issued by General Motors Corp. that will be converted to stock and warrants in new GM. At yesterday’s bond prices, GM’s equity is worth about $47 billion.

GM posted operating profit of $1.2 billion in the first three months as revenue rose 40 percent from a year earlier to $31.5 billion.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-07-02/gm-s-first-half-china-sales-surge-past-the-u-s-.html

Even though GM received handouts from the U.S. government, news like this is still positive for the General, their fans and stockholders and GM automobile owners worldwide. And that money is already repaid ta Uncle Sam IIRC from news of a couple weeks ago!

The automaker’s equity is worth $70 billion, according to a May 20 report by Eric Selle, a JPMorgan Chase & Co. debt analyst who projects a return of 47 cents on the dollar for holders of bonds issued by General Motors Corp. that will be converted to stock and warrants in new GM. At yesterday’s bond prices, GM’s equity is worth about $47 billion.

GM posted operating profit of $1.2 billion in the first three months as revenue rose 40 percent from a year earlier to $31.5 billion.

Better to hear than news from '08 and '09, that is for sure!

GM, China’s SAIC to co-develop engine, dual-clutch transmission

General Motors and its Chinese partner, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), have agreed to begin working on a series of small displacement gasoline engines and advanced transmissions aimed at global markets.

The engines, to be offered in displacements ranging from 1.0 to 1.5 liters, will combine direct injection and turbocharging in an effort to provide larger displacement performance with better fuel economy. To be used in front-wheel-drive smaller cars, the small engines will be mated to a dry dual-clutch automatic transmission also co-developed by GM and SAIC.

Both the engines and transmission will be developed jointly by GM and SAIC engineers in Michigan and at the automakers’ joint-venture Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center in Shanghai.

GM and SAIC say that the powertrains will be used in their products in various markets across the globe – almost certainly including North America. GM says that the engines and transmissions will combine to drop CO2 emissions by about 20 percent compared to “engines and transmissions in production in China today.”

http://www.leftlanenews.com/gm-chinas-saic-to-co-develop-engine-dual-clutch-transmission.html

Shanghai GM updates models with Ecotec 2.4L SIDI engine

Shanghai General Motors Company Ltd. has officially launched seven new models, including four collections of updated Buick LaCrosse and three updated Buick Regal, which all feature a new generation of the Ecotec 2.4L SIDI engine.

The Ecotec 2.4 L SIDI boasts an all-aluminum, dual overhead cam, four-valve engine with forged steel connecting rods and oil spray cooling for reduced friction and noise. In all models, the engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

The new engine promises the vehicle a maximum power of 137kW/6,200rpm and maximum torque of 240Nm/ 4,800rmp, which has surpassed the last generation of 9.6 percent and 6.7 percent.

The 2011 Buick LaCrosse provides costumers six color options, carrying a price tag between 221,900 yuan ($33,506) and 274,900 yuan ($41,509), and the 2011 Buick Regal has five color options, pricing at 205,900-250,900 yuan ($31,090-37,885).

The seven new models are all available to order in the 4S stores nationwide.

Buick have launched a new generation of engine with the Buick Regal – this time the Regal will be sporting a 2.4L direct

injection model that will be able to improve power and lower consumption at the same time. Pricing for the new 2.4L model ranges from 221,900rmb to 274,900rmb depending on specification and the addition of OnStar support.

Power of the 2.4 SIDI model is 137kW/6200rpm and has max torque of 240Nm/4800rpm, power has been increased 9.6% over the last model and torque has increased 6.7% making the car 3% faster on the 0-100kph run (although official times have not yet been announced), fuel economy has been improved by 2.2% whilst emissions are down an amazing 25%.


http://mychinaviews.com/2011/01/buick-regal-2-4l-sidi-model-launched/


Regal 2.4 SIDI:
http://s2.mojalbum.com/avto3-foto_4219952_17427594_18505470.jpg
http://s2.mojalbum.com/avto3-foto_4219952_17427594_18505471.jpg

LaCrosse:
http://s2.mojalbum.com/avto3-foto_4219952_17427594_18505467.jpg
http://s2.mojalbum.com/avto3-foto_4219952_17427594_18505468.jpg

Chinese pages:
http://auto.sohu.com/20110218/n303219462.shtml
http://www.autohome.com.cn/drive/201102/173441.html

GM and Chinese automaker SAIC sign EV deal

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/20/gm-and-chinese-automaker-saic-sign-ev-deal/


Press release
SAIC Motor Corp., Ltd. (SAIC) Chairman Hu Maoyuan and General Motors Co. (GM) Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson signed an agreement today in Shanghai for the co-development of a new electric vehicle architecture in China.

The Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) – SAIC and GM's engineering and design joint venture in Shanghai – will serve as the development center for the architecture. Joint teams from the parent companies will also cooperate on the development of key components and vehicle structures.

The agreement will leverage SAIC's market knowledge and local expertise along with GM's expertise in electric vehicle development and global know-how. It will ensure local input in the development of electric vehicle technology and the delivery of products developed in China.

"The co-development of this new electric vehicle architecture demonstrates the broad range of benefits made possible by the strong partnership between SAIC and GM," said Tim Lee, president of GM International Operations. "For almost 15 years, our two companies have forged some of the industry's most successful joint ventures. This unprecedented level of cooperation is another demonstration of our companies' commitment to work collaboratively."

According to Chen Hong, president of SAIC Motor, "Our agreement will enable SAIC and GM to take advantage of economies of scale and get new technology to the market faster than by going it alone. It will help bring about our goal of leading the automotive industry in new energy vehicles and our vision of sustainable transportation, which we introduced at World Expo 2010 Shanghai."

The electric vehicle architecture will be the first to be co-developed by the two companies. Their Shanghai GM joint venture introduced the Sail electric concept vehicle late last year. Establishing PATAC as the engineering lead for the electric vehicle architecture demonstrates not just the strength of the GM-SAIC partnership, but also the confidence and trust the companies have in one another to accomplish an aggressive and challenging project.

Under the agreement, teams of SAIC, GM and PATAC engineers will work together to develop key components, as well as vehicle structures and architectures. Vehicles resulting from the partnership will be sold in China under Shanghai GM and SAIC brands. SAIC and GM will also use the architecture to build electric vehicles around the globe for their own purposes. Product details and timing will be announced at a later date.

Accelerating the introduction of roadworthy technologies such as this future electric vehicle architecture is more important than ever, following the announcement of a number of more stringent emission and fuel consumption regulations around the world, including China.

Today's agreement is a follow-up to the non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) on strategic cooperation signed by SAIC and GM on Nov. 3, 2010. The two automakers had pledged to reinforce their collaboration in certain core areas of their business, including the development of new energy vehicles and the creation of a stronger and more integrated role for PATAC to work on future vehicles and powertrains. GM and SAIC are making an equal investment in the project.

SAIC and GM are partners in 10 joint ventures in China, which are engaged in vehicle and powertrain manufacturing, sales and aftersales, automotive engineering and design, automotive finance and telematics, and the sale of used vehicles. The companies' manufacturing joint ventures, Shanghai GM and SAIC-GM-Wuling, are market leaders in China. In addition, SAIC and GM operate a joint venture in India and SAIC is an investor in GM Korea Co.

About General Motors: General Motors, one of the world's largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 208,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in more than 120 countries. GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 30 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Baojun, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Daewoo, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's largest national market is China, followed by the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada and Italy. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on the new General Motors can be found at www.gm.com.

About SAIC: SAIC Motor Corp., Ltd. (SAIC) is the largest vehicle manufacturer listed on China's A-share market. In 2010, it sold 3.58 million vehicles, remaining the leader among major automotive groups in China. It is primarily engaged in manufacturing, sales, development and investment in passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and automotive parts and components. It is also engaged in automotive trade and financial services. SAIC operates several vehicle manufacturing joint ventures, including Shanghai Volkswagen, Shanghai GM, Shanghai Sunwin, SAIC-GM-Wuling, Nanjing IVECO and SAIC-IVECO Hongyan. Its wholly owned brands include Roewe, MG and MAXUS Datong. During Expo 2010, SAIC provided more than 1,000 hybrid electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles and other advanced technology vehicles, contributing to an environmentally friendly and low-carbon global event.