GM planning to import China-made vehicles by 2011

Chinese automakers like Chery and BYD have been trying to break into the U.S. market for years, but General Motors could become the first automaker to sell China-made vehicles in America. A new document reveals GM is planning to sell China-made cars in the U.S. by 2011.

According to the document acquired by Automotive News, General Motors plans on selling about 17,300 China-made vehicles in the U.S. in 2011. The number is expected to blossom to 51,500 units by the year 2014.

The document also reveals GM expects its U.S. sales to grow by 50 percent by the year 2014.

Automotive News suggests the China-made vehicles will be small cars similar to the upcoming Chevrolet Spark, but we wouldn’t completely rule out the possibility of a compact sedan for Buick. China is Buick’s largest market and an inside source has revealed GM is planning a smaller, Delta-based sedan for its U.S. Buick division. GM’s expected sales figures would also seem to fall in line with an entry-level Buick sedan.

However, GM’s China import plans could change in the coming months, pending forthcoming negotiations with the UAW. However, even at 2014’s increased sales levels China-made cars would only account for 1.6 percent of GM’s overall sales, so the UAW isn’t expected to throw up a huge road block.

SOURCE: leftlanenews