(September 9, 2011) SHANGHAI — General Motors and its joint ventures in China set an August sales record en route to the third-best sales month in 2011. Domestic vehicle sales rose 13.4 percent on an annual basis to 205,885 units.

For the first eight months of 2011, GM and its joint ventures sold a record 1,652,693 vehicles in China, which was up 5.4 percent from the same period last year.

Sales of passenger cars by Shanghai GM in China rose 21.7 percent to 98,674 units. Domestic mini-commercial vehicle and passenger car sales by SAIC-GM-Wuling, including its new Baojun brand, were up 8.2 percent on an annual basis to 102,959 units. Both were August sales records.

Sales of Buick Excelle
increased 16.9 percent

Demand for Shanghai GM’s Buick lineup remained strong, growing 22.6 percent year on year to an August record 56,026 units. Sales of the original Excelle passenger car family increased 16.9 percent to 23,700 units, while sales of the Excelle XT and GT were up 32.7 percent on an annual basis to 11,303 units. Buick also generated growth of 25.7 percent for its LaCrosse sedan and 37.1 percent for its GL8 family, including the new GL8 luxury MPV.

Chevrolet sales in China also set an August record, totaling 46,370 units, which was 20.5 percent higher than during the same month in 2010. Leading the charge for Chevrolet was the Cruze sedan, with sales of 19,910 units – an increase of 72.7 percent year on year. Sales of the new Aveo, which entered the market in June, totaled 5,050 units.

Cadillac luxury vehicle sales rose 55.8 percent on an annual basis in August to 2,531 units. The SRX luxury SUV remained the brand’s best-selling model, with sales totaling 1,772 units.