GM opens another plant in China (CN)

GM, the cash-strapped U.S car manufacture has just opened another assembly plant in China with local partner Shanghai Auto.

The $390 million factory, GM's second in the northern city of Shenyang, has already begun pilot production of the new Chevrolet Cruze. GM does not plan to begin building and selling the Cruze in the U.S until MY2011, but the new model will begin reaching Chinese showrooms in Spring 2009. The Cruze is currently on sale in South Korea, where it is known as the Daewoo Lacetti.

GM and its local partners now have the capacity to produce more than 1 million vehicles a year in China. The new Shenyang plant can build up to 150,000 cars a year. GM and Shanghai Auto also operate assembly plants in Shanghai, Liuzhou and Yantai, building a wide range of products from Wuling MPV's to Buick sedans.

GM executives have said the company expects to sell up to 1.2 million vehicles, including imports, in China in 2009, despite an industry-wide downturn this year.