Auto Knight

GM Sees Sales Decline In China

by Darren

GM can’t count on China anymore as a growth engine anymore. The company had counted on China to be a bright spot in 2008 sales figures, but they slipped there, also.

GM’s vehicle sales in China rose 6.1% to 1,094,561 units, a record, but growth declined from 19% in 2007 and 32% in 2006 because of a weakening local auto industry and GM’s aging models, analysts said. The company sold 1,031,974 units in China in 2007, the most of any auto maker in the country.

The company is counting on the introduction of new models in 2009 to help reduce the bleeding. The company plans on introducing four of five new products in 2009.

Of course the Chinese economy is also slowing down enormously, right along with the rest of the industrialized world, so times might be tougher this year than last.