GM Still in the Hunt in China
There are a lot of confusing numbers coming out of China. They get spun a thousand different ways. In the Pictures-Speak-Louder-Than-Words Dept., here is the January-September hit parade of sedans that sell in China. And to give you the current snapshot, right underneath are September only sales. Data are straight from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA,) and they are as good as they get in China. Excel chart courtesy of our our friends at gasgoo.com The clunkers, the FAW-VW Jetta, and the SVW Santana just won’t die. They are ugly. There is no marketing support behind them. And they just keep on outselling everything. With the Excelle, GM still is well positioned, whatever detractors may say. The September numbers say GM still can fight the fight.
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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I'm confused. Isn't the Elantra a Hyundai? Granted the Excelle is a Buick, but GM doesn't get the credit for Hyundai sales.
John: Good catch! Text amended. Got confused by the aforementioned confusion. It's tough to keep track of WTF makes what from whom in China. Yeah, the Excelle is a Buick, actually a rebadged Daewoo Lacetti, or a Canadian Chevy Optra, or a Suzuki Forenza/Reno, my head is spinning .... Want your head to redline? This from an old 2005 post in Carlist.com. It's title "Does the world need General Morors?" is more pertinent than ever. Anyway: "GM and Shanghai Automotive have a car-building joint venture in Shanghai, China, called Shanghai-GM Automotive Co. Ltd. The JV also produces engines, transmission and stampings and has responsibility for vehicle marketing and distribution. GM and SAIC also have a vehicle assembly JV in Yantai, China, owned 25% by GM, 25% by SAIC and 50% by Shanghai-GM Automotive. GM and SAIC are partners in SAIC-Wuling Automotive Co. Ltd., a vehicle assembly operation in Liuzhou, China. SAIC-Wuling is owned 51.1% by SAIC, 34% by GM and 15.9% by Liuzhou Wuling Automotive Co. Ltd. GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. Ltd. is a joint venture owned 42.1% by GM, 14.9% by Suzuki, 10% by SAIC and 33% by former Daewoo creditors. Former Daewoo assets included in GM Daewoo are manufacturing facilities in Changwon and Kunsan, South Korea, and Hanoi, Vietnam, as well as nine overseas sales subsidiaries and parts operations in Europe." I figure, half of GM's white collar workforce is doing Sarbanes-Oxley filings ....