GM Hires Consultant Dunne to Head Indonesia Unit

Hong Kong-based auto market consultant Michael Dunne has been recruited by General Motors Co. to serve as president of its Indonesia unit.

The Detroit native has consulted on the Asian auto industry since 1993 and is an expert on China's car market. He succeeds Marco Purty, who will begin an undisclosed new assignment at GM in January.

Dunne founded Automotive Resources Asia 20 years ago. The Shanghai-based company was acquired by J.D. Power and Associates in 2006, where he continued until founding Dunne & Co. in Hong Kong three years ago.

He also is author of American Wheels, Chinese Roads: The Story of General Motors in China.

GM Indonesia doubled its sales in Indonesia last year to 6,600 vehicles. In May the company reopened its shuttered assembly plant near Jakarta to produce the Chevrolet Spin, a subcompact MPV. The facility has capacity to produce 40,000 vehicles annually, 8,000 of which will be exported to Thailand and the Philippines.