GM Family Drives Design and Technology at Auto China 2008

Beijing, China – General Motors Corp. and its Chinese joint ventures are highlighting their achievements in design and technology at Auto China 2008, this year’s leading auto show in China, which runs from April 20 through April 28 in Beijing.

GM, Shanghai GM and SAIC-GM-Wuling have on display a record 42 production, concept and clean-energy vehicles from the Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Opel, Saab and Wuling brands on their combined 4,700-square-meter stands.  Eight of the products are making their debut in China.  Among them is the Buick Invicta concept car, which is also making its global auto show debut.

“The vehicles that we have brought to Auto China 2008 demonstrate the commitment of the GM family to offering a broad range of products that put design and technology in the forefront,” said Kevin Wale, President and Managing Director of the GM China Group. “Our combined stands showcase the GM China family’s unmatched lineup of today, while giving a hint of some of the vehicles and technologies to come.”

Vehicles of Today

The GM China family is displaying a selection of models that are currently being sold by GM and its joint ventures in China or will soon enter the market.

Buick is showcasing its freshened lineup, led by the new LaCrosse Eco-Hybrid, which will go on sale in advance of this summer’s Beijing Olympic Games, and the Buick Enclave luxury crossover from North America. Buick’s auto show lineup also includes the Park Avenue and non-hybrid LaCrosse premium sedans, the brand’s best-selling Excelle lower-medium sedan, the HRV sport hatchback and the popular GL8 executive wagon.

Cadillac is represented by its full lineup of luxury models, starting with the all-new CTS luxury sedan and the China-made SLS luxury business sedan. Making its domestic debut at Auto China 2008 is the Escalade 2-Mode Hybrid. The non-hybrid Escalade SUV, SRX luxury utility vehicle and XLR luxury roadster round out the Cadillac display.

Making its debut from Chevrolet on the GM stand is the new Aveo hatchback, which is powered by an S-TEC II 1.2-liter engine.  It is joined by its Chevrolet siblings, the latest edition of the Spark mini-car, the Lova compact sedan, the Captiva SUV and the new Epica intermediate sedan.

Opel has brought to China its new Astra notchback, which is being launched at Auto China 2008, along with the Astra TwinTop convertible, Astra GTC Panorama sedan and Zafira MTA. Saab, GM’s premium brand from Sweden, is showcasing its Turbo X, 900, 9-5 Aero and three 9-3 family members: the 9-3 Convertible, 9-3 Sporthatch and 9-3 Aero.

The Wuling Rong Guang, a new mini-commercial vehicle powered by a 1.2-liter double overhead cam gasoline engine, is making its debut at Auto China 2008.  SAIC-GM-Wuling, GM’s mini-vehicle joint venture, is also showing its popular Hong Tu and Sunshine minivans.

Vehicles of Tomorrow

Among the vehicles of the future being shown on the GM family’s stand is the Buick Invicta.  Designed collaboratively by GM’s design centers in Warren, Michigan, and Shanghai, the Invicta presents a bold direction for Buick’s new generation of vehicles to be built in the United States and China, the world’s two largest vehicle markets. Its design inspiration came from the Buick Riviera concept, which made its global premiere at Auto Shanghai 2007.

On display for the first time in China is a full lineup of GM’s E-Flex concept vehicles, including the fuel cell E-Flex in the Cadillac Provoq, the diesel range extender E-Flex in the Opel Flextreme and the gasoline range extender E-Flex in the Chevrolet Volt.  The E-Flex system uses an electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery to propel the vehicle.  An onboard engine, which may be powered by a variety of fuel sources, generates additional electricity to replenish the battery and extend the vehicle’s driving range.

One of the other concept cars being shown in Beijing is the Chevrolet Camaro, a sports car with a famous pedigree that drew acclaim for its role as Bumblebee in the movie “Transformers.”

General Motors has been the sales leader among global automakers in China for three consecutive years. In 2007, GM became the first global automaker to sell 1 million vehicles in China in a single year.  GM and its joint ventures sold 1,031,974 vehicles in 2007, which represented an increase of 18.5 percent from 2006.