Kevin Wale, president of General Motors (GM) in China, said Wednesday that China is likely to retain its auto sales lead and remain the world’s largest auto sales market for the foreseeable future, the New York Times reported. He said the gap created by China’s surging auto sales over the last year will be too wide for the US to close. China’s total vehicle sales increased by 45% in 2009 to 13.6 million units, compared to a 21% decline in the US to 10.4 million. Wale said he expects vehicle sales here to grow to 14.5 million to 15.5 million, exceeding analysts predictions of US performance of 11.5-12 million sales. "[The Chinese auto market] will grow again next year," Wales said, " which means the US has to pick up five million in two years to stay in the race." GM is profitable in China, he said, without giving figures, but he noted that sales of Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and Wuliing brands were up 67% in 2009 year-on-year. It sold 1.8 million cars in China last year, compared to 2 million in the US.
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