CHINA: GM proclaims record annual sales for 2005 in Asia-Pacific

General Motors has announced today that it sold a record 1,065,000 vehicles and increased its market share in Asia Pacific to 5.8% in 2005. It marked the first time that GM’s sales in the region surpassed one million vehicles in a calendar year.

"Despite intense competition, GM continued to outpace the market as a whole due primarily to the growth of our brands and operations in China, India, Korea, Thailand and Australia," said Troy Clarke, GM Group Vice President and President of GM Asia Pacific.

Sales of GM vehicles in Asia Pacific rose 20. %, compared to estimated industry growth of 6.5 %. In 2004, GM sold 887,000 units in Asia Pacific for a 5.2% market share.

"We benefited from a series of new product introductions, the strengthening of the Chevrolet brand, and the further expansion of our manufacturing and product development capability," said Clarke. "This enabled GM to participate more fully in the robust growth of the Asia Pacific car and truck market."

In China, sales of vehicles from GM and its joint ventures jumped 35% in 2005 to 665,390 units. GM ended the year with an estimated market share of 11.2% in what is now its second-largest global market following the United States. By comparison, GM sold 492,014 vehicles in 2004 for a market share of 9.4%. GM was boosted by higher output from its two largest manufacturing joint ventures, Shanghai GM and SAIC-GM-Wuling.

Demand for Shanghai GM's lineup of Buick, Chevrolet and Cadillac products jumped 29% to 325,429 units, while sales of SAIC-GM-Wuling's Wuling brand minivans and mini-commercial vehicles as well as its Chevrolet Spark mini-car rose 43 % to 337,188 units.

GM received a considerable boost in China from the rollout of Chevrolet as the automaker's second mainstream brand alongside Buick. With three new products (the Sail, Epica and Aveo) reaching the market, Chevrolet sales topped 100,000 units for the first time in a single year in China.

Sales in Thailand and India were boosted by the popularity of Chevrolet, which has become the fastest-growing vehicle nameplate in the ASEAN region of Southeast Asia and one of the fastest growing in India.

In Thailand, GM's sales rose 96% to 33,943 units due to high demand for the Chevrolet Colorado pickup and Chevrolet Optra family. In India, the popularity of the Chevrolet Tavera multi-utility vehicle and Chevrolet Optra sedan helped drive up sales 16% to 29,936 units. GM's market share has grown to an estimated 4.9 % in Thailand and 2.1% in India, both record highs.

At 176,042 units (including the Holden and Saab brands), sales in GM's second-largest market in the region, Australia, were slightly lower year on year.

Sales of GM Daewoo Auto & Technology (GM Daewoo) and GM products in GM's third-largest market in the region, Korea, grew 3.1% to 108,246 units. GM Holden strengthened its second-place position among automakers in Australia, with the Holden Commodore remaining Australia's best-selling car for the tenth consecutive year, while GM Daewoo moved up to second place in total vehicle sales (including exports) among domestic automakers in Korea.

GM says it will launch an several additional 29 new and upgraded vehicles in Asia Pacific in 2006. They include an SUV and new midsize sedan to be manufactured at GM Daewoo; new offerings from Buick, Cadillac and Chevrolet in China; three new Chevrolet models in India; and several new large cars, including the Commodore, and a new SUV from GM Holden in Australia. In addition, GM Daewoo will begin production of diesel engines at its powertrain facility in Gunsan, Korea, for GM vehicles sold around the world.

In only the company's third year of operation, GM Daewoo's sales and exports in 2005 topped one million vehicles for the first time. Exports of complete vehicles and knockdown kits, which are sold in more than 150 countries on six continents, increased 32% to 1,050,193 units in 2005.