Chevy Revs Up China Plans

General Motors Co.’s Chevrolet brand says it will introduce more than 20 new or significantly refreshed vehicles in China by the end of 2020.

The total includes several models that bowed in China earlier this year, such as the Malibu XL midsize car and its hybrid derivative, the Cavalier sedan, Cruze small car and all-new Camaro pony car. Six crossover/SUVs will be part of the next wave of the rollout.

Most of the upcoming China models will be produced locally by GM’s joint venture operations with SAIC Motor Corp., according to the company. The partners also will work together at their Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center in Shanghai to adapt the vehicles for the Chinese market.

The new vehicles will feature a variety of powertrains, including small-displacement turbocharged gasoline engines, diesels, and conventional and plug-in hybrid-electric systems.

GM says it has sold more than 4 million Chevys in China since launching the brand there in 2005. There are now more than 600 Chevy dealers in some 200 Chinese cities.

Chevy’s China sales fell nearly 10% to 612,000 units last year and have plunged another 21% year-over-year through the first nine months of 2016, despite increases in August and September. GM attributes the decline to model changeovers.

GM and its Chinese joint ventures sold a combined 2.7 million vehicles in the country through September, up 9% from like-2015. Last year the carmaker announced plans to invest $14 billion in China through 2018 and launch more than 60 new and refreshed vehicles there by 2020.