GM Shows Off Baojun 630 for China

SAIC-GM-Wuling, one of GM China's most important joint ventures has unveiled the Baojun 630, which entered production last Friday. The new affordable sedan was developed in China, but most of its technology was brought by GM, including the efficient powertrain that meets both Chinese emission standards and Euro IV standard.

"We carefully studied the market and customers," said Kevin Wale, President and Managing Director of the GM China Group. "Quality, design, fuel economy and durability were made a focus to appeal to local car buyers, particularly first-time buyers in the nation's second- and third-tier markets."

The full engine and feature details were released to the local market, all we know is that the car will be built at the group's plant in Liuzhou, Guangxi Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, which has an annual production capacity of more than 100,000 vehicles and which adopted General Motors' Global Manufacturing System (GMS) and quality standards. Also, the car will go on sale at the beginning of 2011, which means a new network of Baojun dealerships will be inaugurated.

The SGMW group is very confident in their new product, especially with this car basically marking the birth of a brand. The Baojun (which, in translation, means treasured horse) brand of cars was introduced this year, and, under this name, a series of low-cost passenger cars will be built in the future.

According to SGMW General Manager Shen Yang, "The Baojun brand will make SGMW a more competitive automaker as we roll out a full lineup of passenger vehicles under the nameplate in the coming years. We have high expectations for the brand and our first model, the Baojun 630, which will compete in the middle range of the passenger car segment - the industry's fastest growing."

The SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile group was formed in 2002, when General Motors, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation and Liuzhou Wuling Motors joined forces and became on of China's top five carmakers (along with First Automobile Works, Chang'an Motors, Dongfeng Motor Corporation, and Chery Automobile). Until the Baojun brand was introduced, the group sold Wuling trucks and vans and was also building and selling the Chevrolet Le Chi.

As for the results, they were great, because the group registered domestic sales of 1,061,213 units in 2009, being the only Chinese carmaker to sell more than one million cars in one year. 2009 was the fourth consecutive year when the SGMW group has been the sales leader among Chinese automakers. And this year seems to continue the tradition, because the group sold 1,058,346 units in the first 10 months of 2010.