GENERAL Motors Co sales in China, where it is the largest foreign automaker, rose an annual 11 percent to a record for March led by demand for vehicles including the Buick Excelle and Chevrolet New Sail.

Deliveries of cars and Wuling minivans increased to 257,944 units last month, the company said on its website yesterday. Unit sales for the three months ending March gained 8.7 percent to 745,152 units, a record, according to the statement.

GM is counting on growth in China to keep its lead over Toyota Motor Corp and Volkswagen AG as the world's biggest automaker. The Detroit-based carmaker attracted buyers with the Malibu mid-sized sedan rolled out in February, while first-time purchasers bought cars even though the economy slowed, said John Zeng, LMC Automotive's Shanghai-based director of Asian forecasting.

"Our new models such as the Chevrolet Malibu have gotten off to a solid start, complementing the ongoing strength of established products such as the Buick Excelle, Chevrolet Cruze and Cadillac SRX," Kevin Wale, president and managing director of the GM China Group, said in an e-mailed statement.

Source:shanghaidaily