GM's March Sales in China Cement Top Status

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Wall Street Journal

By PATRICIA JIAYI HO

BEIJING—General Motors Co.'s sales in China continued their rapid growth in March, helping to cement China as the U.S. auto maker's biggest market by vehicle sales so far this year.

China sold a record 230,000 vehicles in the country in March, a 68% gain, compared with 189,000 vehicles in the U.S., a rise of 21%. Last year, the U.S. market was still No. 1 in GM's sales, with about two million vehicles sold over China's 1.83 million.

For the full first quarter, GM's sales in China rose 71% to 624,000 units, compared with 16% growth to 477,000 units in its home country, where it is gradually recovering from the credit crisis and a bankruptcy protection filing last year.

However, the China sales growth in the first part of the year looks strong partly because sales in last year's first quarter were severely affected by the financial crisis. China sales growth is expected to slow this month, as the comparison base becomes more challenging. April last year was when China sales gained significant momentum, rising 25% after a mere 5% gain that March, with even faster sales gains in subsequent months.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304135104575159133084357568.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection

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Bloomberg News

Demand for smaller cars, such as the Chevrolet Cruze, helped General Motors's March sales in China.
chevycruze

[Kolesar]

1. The Cruze will be "rated" 40mpg+ highway! ... eom