GM Wants To Nearly Double Its Exports From China

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

A few weeks ago, GM’s spokesman Greg Martin said:

“There will be no exports of these cars built in China. Cars that are built in China are sold in China.”

No true, said GM China head Bob Socia to Reuters today, reiterating former statements that GM’s Chinese export machine is in full swing: “GM plans to export as many as 130,000 China-made vehicles this year, up from 77,000 vehicles in 2012, driven by demand for its Chevrolet Sail in other emerging markets,” Reuters writes.

The Sail, GM’s $9,800 car, goes to “South America and other emerging markets,” Socia told Reuters.

According to the wire, GM is China’s second-largest car exporter with 33,623 units shipped overseas in the first four months of the year, behind Chery, which shipped 46,234 units.

For the first time in the history of car manufacturing, Chinese carmakers have sold 1 million cars outside of China in 2012, writes Matt Gasnier. GM was glad to help.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • @markthebike @markthebike on Jun 04, 2013

    the future, goodbye to high paying manufacturing jobs elsewhere

    • See 4 previous
    • Buickman Buickman on Jun 04, 2013

      @highdesertcat where's Roger Smith when you need him?

  • NN NN on Jun 04, 2013

    Not too long ago, you bought a car made either in the USA, Japan, Germany, Korea, Canada, Mexico, Sweden or England. With very few exceptions those were the choices. Today in the US you can buy a Porsche made in Slovakia, a Fiat made in Serbia, a Ford made in Turkey, soon another Ford made in Thailand, a Toyota made in France, a Mercedes Benz made in South Africa. It's amazing that there is still no single car sold here that is assembled in China, given China's manufacturing prowess compared to these other countries and each manufacturer's presence there. The brands are obviously concerned about the political context, so it may actually end up leaving that space open to a company like Great Wall to be the first, and replicate what they're doing in Australia. Or why not Volkswagen?? Not being a US company & having a relatively small footprint here they have less political damage to incur.

    • See 7 previous
    • Doctor olds Doctor olds on Jun 05, 2013

      @highdesertcat Yes, And the empirical evidence says that GM is, by some margin, the most popular company in America, for that matter everywhere in the world outside of Japan. Your own logic defeats your argument, HDC.

  • Asdf Asdf on Jun 04, 2013

    Of course the company soon to be known as the Chinese Government Motors will export cars made in its new home country.

  • Shaker Shaker on Jun 05, 2013

    I just purchased a 2013 Malibu 2LT, and the $2500 in rebates were the prime factor in the purchase, because I don't like to haggle with dealers. Going through the Internet, I was offered another $700 off MSRP. Love the car (so far) and I'm happy to report that the car was built in Kansas City, the engine and transmission are USA sourced, with 67% overall USA/Canada sourced. I'm sure that the remainder comes from all over, but I'm glad that the majority is made by the "home team". I've been looking at Malibus for some time, but always found them lacking in style and refinement - no longer, this car has "presence", and appears to have been assembled carefully (kudos to KC!).

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