GM Plots Further Growth in China

General Motors Co. says it aims to expand its annual capacity in China with its joint venture partners to 5 million vehicles by 2016.

The company has said previously that it expects to boost annual sales in China to 5 million vehicles in 2016 from 2.55 million units last year.

To support that growth, GM plans to expand its dealer network in China 20% this year to 3,500 outlets. The company has 4,400 dealers in the U.S., where it sold 2.50 million vehicles in 2011.

GM also intends to increase investment and staffing at its Pan-Asia technical center in Shanghai over the next four years as the facility designs and engineers models for emerging markets.