Chinese consumers bought 18.5 million automobiles in 2011, and the top pick was a Buick Excelle made by General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM). Some 254,000 of the Excelle were sold last year in China, while Buick’s total US sales reached just 178,000.
GM’s Chevrolet Cruze was the third-best selling car in China last year, with Volkswagen AG’s VW Lavida in second place, according to thetruthaboutcars.com. GM and Volkswagen garnered 7 of the top 10 spots last year.
The Buick’s success in China may be one reason that GM continues to market the brand in the US. Chinese buyers are able to say that they’re purchasing an American car, which is not insignificant in China. If GM were to kill the brand in the US, some of its cachet would be lost, and GM can’t afford to lose Chinese customers.
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