General Motors has unveiled the first car to go on sale under the newly formed Chinese brand Baojun: the Baojun 630.

The brand has been formed under GM’s joint venture with Chinese companies Shanghai Automobile Industry Corporation and Wuling, with the aim of selling affordable cars in China.

Not much has been said in the way of technical details, but the drivetrain uses “proven GM technology” and complies with both Chinese and Euro-5 emissions standards.

The car will be built at the joint venture’s plant in Liuzhou, Guangxi. The facility has an annual production capacity of 100,000 vehicles.

This is just the beginning for Baojun, as a full lineup of passenger cars is planned over the next few years. We’ll be on the look out.

Press Release

First Baojun 630 Passenger Car Rolls Off Line at SAIC-GM-Wuling
Will Strengthen Competitiveness of GM China Joint Venture

2010-11-22

Liuzhou – The first Baojun 630 passenger car from SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW), one of GM China’s main joint ventures, rolled off the production line today in Liuzhou, Guangxi.

Baojun is SGMW’s new brand of affordable passenger vehicles that will be sold across China. The initial model, the Baojun 630, goes on sale in early 2011 through a new network of dedicated Baojun dealers.

The compact sedan was developed locally using proven GM technology. It features a highly efficient GM powertrain that meets all local emission standards as well as the advanced Euro IV standard.

“We carefully studied the market and customers,” said Kevin Wale, President and Managing Director of the GM China Group. “Quality, design, fuel economy and durability were made a focus to appeal to local car buyers, particularly first-time buyers in the nation’s second- and third-tier markets.”

According to SGMW General Manager Shen Yang, “The Baojun brand will make SGMW a more competitive automaker as we roll out a full lineup of passenger vehicles under the nameplate in the coming years. We have high expectations for the brand and our first model, the Baojun 630, which will compete in the middle range of the passenger car segment – the industry’s fastest growing.”

The Baojun 630 will be manufactured at SGMW’s facility in Liuzhou, which has an initial annual capacity of more than 100,000 vehicles. The facility has adopted GM’s Global Manufacturing System (GMS) and quality standards.

SGMW, a joint venture between GM China, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation Group (SAIC) and Wuling Motors, was launched in 2002. It is based in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. SGMW currently manufactures a range of Wuling brand mini-trucks and minivans as well as the Chevrolet Le Chi.

In 2009, SAIC-GM-Wuling had domestic sales of 1,061,213 units, becoming the only automaker in China to sell more than 1 million vehicles in a single year. It has been the sales leader among Chinese mini-vehicle producers for four consecutive years. In the first 10 months of 2010, SGMW sold a record 1,058,346 vehicles.

Source: General Motors