Gasgoo.com (Shanghai October 1) - In accordance with its green product development strategy, Shanghai GM will be unveiling 12 new high-performance engines by 2015, the Beijing Morning Post reported today.

The announcement was made by Zhang Zhihong, director of brand planning for the joint venture, at a test drive event for the new Buick LaCrosse eAssist hybrid (pictured) held in Zhuhai, Guangdong. Mr. Zhang added that the joint venture's goal is to reduce emissions and fuel economy 15 percent by 2015 by further improving on technology for its three brands, while increasing engine performance by 14 percent. According to Bai Leimeng, executive director of GM China automotive electrification strategy, GM will be cooperating with SAIC to develop brand new electric vehicle models.

Shanghai GM's sales this year exceeded one million in only the first ten months of 2011. The figure, which is 19 percent higher than the amount sold in the same time period last year, sets a new record high for the JV. The JV's growth rate is far above the average industry growth rate of 9.9 percent.

A total of 19 different emission-friendly models have been released by Shanghai GM's three brands, accounting for a total of 72 percent of the JV's automobile sales. These new models have allowed Shanghai GM's fuel savings to increase by 5.4 percent, while carbon dioxide emissions have dropped from 92,085 tons to 41,014 tons, equivalent to the amount needed to sustain 1.12 million trees for a year.