GENERAL Motors Co, which outperformed Volkswagen AG in China sales last year, has cemented its leadership in the world's largest auto market for an eighth year.
GM and its Chinese joint ventures yesterday said their 2012 sales grew 11.3 percent to a record 2.84 million vehicles.
Volkswagen sold 2.81 million units last year in China, up 24.5 percent.
"GM remained a leader in our company's largest market in spite of a downturn in the commercial vehicle segment, where GM has a significant presence," said Bob Socia, GM China president.
Despite last year's 5.5 percent sales drop in China's commercial vehicle segment according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, sales of GM's Chinese minivan brand Wuling jumped 11.8 percent to 1.3 million units.
Sales of GM's Buick brand grew 8.4 percent to 700,007 units, Chevrolet gained 5.3 percent to 626,846 units, and Cadillac rose slightly to a record 30,010 units.
GM's Chinese joint-venture brand Baojun sold 84,467 units in its first full year.
China's social trust index declined further last year, according to the Annual Report on Social Mentality of China 2012