GM car sales in China hit a record

General Motors says its sales in China in the first half of this year were up 38 percent year-on-year.

GM China Group, which operates 8 joint ventures with Chinese firms, said on Wednesday that in the January-to-June period it sold 814,000 vehicles -- a record for a half-year period.

It said demand for minivans was particularly strong, with sales up 50 percent.

For 5 months in a row this year, China has surpassed the United States as the world's largest buyer of cars, thanks to China's introduction of tax breaks for car buyers to stimulate its economy.

GM China Group President Kevin Wale said the strong sales figures show that the Chinese market is embracing GM products. He added that he's optimistic about the second half of the year.

Strong growth in China is crucial for the survival of GM as it struggles to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States.

2009/07/01 18:01(JST)