While General Motors filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States, GM's joint venture in China SAIC-GM-Wuling' sales exceeded 100,000 in May, topped among the Chinese car companies' sales in a single month.
The sale of SAIC-GM-Wuling has kept up growing since the beginning of the year driven by the Automobile to the Countryside policy, with January-May sales summed up to 440,000. In some cities, buyers even have to wait for 15 days to pick up the car from SAIC-GM-Wuling's 4S stores.
The global financial crisis has not affected the company's business, said Dehong Han, Public Relations Manager of the company. The company didn’t lay off any staff; on the contrary, it offered raise for them. The company has recruited 3500 new workers since the beginning of the year. At present, SAIC-GM-Wuling is producing at full capacity to meet the demand of China's auto market.
Industry analysis noted the rich compositive strength is also a key factor of SAIC-GM-Wuling sales miracle besides the dirven policy. It is reported that SAIC-GM-Wuling Liuzhou and Qingdao make 900,000 autos and 700,000 engines per year. Besides, SAIC-GM-Wuling has covered over 90% of city network in China.
GM's business in China are totally different from the parent company in the United States. After filing for bankruptcy protection the century-old company's assets will be reorganized, with some assets sold.
Steve Tuttle, who now is the director of vehicle manufacturing engineering from SAIC-GM-Wuling , comes from the parent company. He told Xinhua in an interview said he was glad to be able to work in China, the most successful working place of General Motors.
In fact, GM has been learning from its partners in China. Tuttle said. GM China's successful experience will be a good model for the restructured company in North American.
Tuttle also introduced that the GM companies in China is autonomous, and its business operation is all going well without being affected by the parent company in U.S.
It is reported that General Motors sales in China hit a single month record in May. With a total of 156,363, the sales increased by 75.2 % over the same period last year.
China