GM Q1 China sales slump 24%

Sales at General Motors and its two joint ventures slipped 24 percent to roughly 462,000 in the first quarter, according to numbers the Detroit automaker’s China unit released on Friday.

The sales slump was led by GM’s proprietary brands. GM and other foreign automakers are under pressure to introduce more EVs and enhance connectivity and advanced software to appeal to China’s mostly younger consumer base.

Buick deliveries plunged 35 percent to some 106,000, including 33,000 GL8 multi-purpose vehicles.

Chevrolet sales also shrank 35 percent to 34,000. The Monza sedan remained the brand’s best-selling model in China, with deliveries approaching 22,000.

Cadillac sales skidded 32 percent to 32,000. The brand’s top seller, the CT5 sedan, generated deliveries of more than 12,000.

GM produces Cadillac, Buick and Chevrolet cars and light trucks at SAIC-GM, its passenger-vehicle partnership with SAIC Motor Corp.