GM Baojun 630

#1 24-01-2011, 02:34 AM

2011 Baojun 630

Chevrolet , China Chevrolet New Sail hatchback

aveo

First Baojun 630 Passenger Car Rolls Off Line at SAIC-GM-Wuling

Will Strengthen Competitiveness of GM China Joint Venture

2010-11-22

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.

Chevrolet Optra platform. Wuling, one of the partner companies, so far offered only vans and for the first time, the company which holds a significant share along with its partners GM and SAIC, is launching a full sized passenger sedan. The Baojun 630 is targeting the fast growing mid-size sedan segment of China.

Photo: Bojun 630 might make it to India

The Baojun 630 will be powered by a 1.5 litre Roewe engine that produces 105 bhp of maximum power and 135 Nm of maximum torque. Roewe is owned by SAIC and Volkswagen is another of SAIC�s partners. The Roewe engine is expected to meet local as well as global (Euro IV) emission standards. GM in China has achieved a milestone recently by selling 1 million cars in a single year.
SAIC holds a 50 percent stake in GM India and there are strong expectations that SAIC will bring its products and sell it under the Chevrolet brand or an all new brand with the help of GM India. Wuling�s vans are also expected to reach the Indian auto market within the next 24 months.
GM India has seen a successful run in India recently, as three of its models, Chevrolet Spark, Chevrolet Beat and Chevrolet Cruze have been received well. However, its sedans, the Chevrolet Aveo and the Chevrolet Optra haven�t been selling in large numbers.

Photo: Bojun 630 sedan photo

But now, with GM-SAIC-Wuling (SGMW) partnership and its plans for the Indian market, one can expect GM China�s SAIL sedan and hatchback to come to India either to co-exist with or substitute the Aveo in GM India�s portfolio.
One would expect the next step would be to bring in the Baojun 630 to co-exist with or replace the Chevrolet Optra, with a little bit of badge engineering. However, since GM has given the Aveo hatchback and sedan a facelift internationally, there are possibilities for GM to launch these revamped 2011 models here as well.