GM to post double-digit growth

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, February 17, 2004

GM to post double-digit growth

U.S. auto giant General Motors Corp. expects to post double-digit growth in China over the next few years as blistering demand puts the country on track to become GM's second largest market.

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U.S. auto giant General Motors Corp. expects to post double-digit growth in China over the next few years as blistering demand puts the country on track to become GM's second largest market.

With sales growth of almost 50 percent in 2003, GM expected another boom year in China, Chief Financial Officer John Devine told a media briefing in Shanghai.

Devine said China was on course to overtake Japan as GM's second largest market but he did not give a timeframe.

GM posted a 46.4 percent rise in China sales in 2003 from its four main auto-making ventures to 386,710 units.

The company does not give a profit figure for the country.

Foreign carmakers have injected billions of dollars into China, chasing sky-rocketing demand from consumers as more mature markets stagnate, prompting fears of a margin-sapping glut.

Runaway investment in production capacity is also sparking fears it could outpace demand growth.

However, of more concern was the global rise in steel prices, though overall material costs would fall in 2004, Devine said.

A lack of significant auto exports from China to the United States meant GM was not concerned with the debate on whether the yuan should be revalued, he said.

Devine insisted price cuts that have been sweeping the Chinese market have not had a significant impact on margins.

GM executives estimate they had 8.7 percent of the Chinese market in 2003, up from 7.4 percent in 2002. But this still lags far behind market leader Volkswagen AG, which held 33 percent of the market in 2003.

GM had said in November it would increase capacity at its Chinese plants by 50 percent by 2006.

Shanghai GM only had 4,000 units in inventory at the end of last year, on sales of slightly more than 200,000, said GM's China head, Phil Murtaugh.

The company also has a troubled venture in the northeastern city of Shenyang, called Jinbei GM, the smallest of its China partnerships, with annual capacity of about 30,000 trucks and sport utility vehicles.

That venture sold just 3,200 vehicles last year.

Shanghai Auto has said it was considering taking over the Liaoning provincial government's stake in Jinbei GM.

Source:Xinhua

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