Shanghai GM to build plant in central China
Shanghai General Motors has received government approval to build anassembly plant in the city of Wuhan in central China's Hubei province.
Shanghai GM, a 51-49 joint venture between SAIC Motor Co. and General Motors, produces Buick, Chevrolet and Cadillac passenger vehicles.
The partnership's fourth production facility will produce up to 300,000 vehicles per year, according to the Hubei provincial government's environmental protection agency.
The agency posted a notice on its Web site indicating that it intends to approve construction of the Shanghai GM plant. But Chinese law requires the government to solicit public comments on the environment implications.
Shanghai GM has three plants in the cities of Shanghai, Yantai and Shenyang. The three plants have a combined production capacity of 960,000 vehicles.
Shanghai GM also is expanding its Shenyang plant to increase annual production capacity to 300,000 vehicles, up from 200,000 vehicles now.
The company now is producing above its normal capacity. In 2011, Shanghai GM sold 1,231,539 vehicles, up 18 percent year-on-year.
