General Motors Corp said it has become the first overseas car maker to sell one million units on the Chinese mainland this year. 

The milestone is a result of GM adopting a multi-brand strategy and growing its lineup of vehicles in the world's second largest auto market over the past 10 years.

GM didn't give specific sales figure for the whole year. Last year, it sold 876,747 units on the mainland, a jump of 32 percent from 2005 and outpaced the growth of the entire auto industry of 25 percent.

The one-millionth figure was marked when GM China Group President and Managing Director Kevin Wale handed the keys to a Buick Park Avenue to Zhang Jianping at Shanghai GM's corporate showroom in Shanghai last Friday.

It took GM five years to boost sales by 10 times from 100,000 units in 2002 to one million units this year amid fierce competition with rivals like Volkswagen and Toyota.

Detroit-based GM, the world's largest car maker, has a flagship passenger car venture Shanghai General Motors with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp.

Shanghai GM now locally produces more than 50 models under the Cadillac, Buick and Chevrolet brands.

The company's lineup ranges from premier sedans, economy cars, sport-utility vehicles and multi-purpose vehicles.

GM also operates a minivan venture with SAIC.

This year, GM introduced five new models including the Cadillac SLS luxury business sedan, Buick Park Avenue premium sedan and Chevrolet Captiva SUV.

GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner said in a statement that GM will continue to roll out new and upgraded models, with specific engineering done on the mainland, to meet local needs.

GM also plans to invest US$250 million to build a GM Park in Shanghai, including an alternative fuel research center.

The US car maker also plans to start making and selling a gas-electric hybrid vehicle on China's mainland next year.

(Shanghai Daily December 25, 2007)