GM raises 2009 forecast on strong August sales

General Motors raised its sales growth forecast for the year in China after reporting a jump August sales, the Wall Street Journal reported. The automaker said it expected annual sales growth of more than 40% thanks in part to government policies to encourage vehicle purchases. GM said its sales in August rose 113% to a record 152,365 vehicles, after a 78% rise in July. Sales in the January-August period were up 50% to 1.11 million units, the company said. GM has been helped by government incentives aimed at vehicles with small-displacement engines. Approximately one-third of the company’s sales in August were of the Wuling Sunshine minivan, produced by GM’s joint venture with Wuling Automobile.