With the purchase of a midnight black Chevrolet Optra 1.8 LT, H.E. Manaspas Xuto recently became the 1 millionth buyer of a General Motors vehicle in Asia Pacific in 2005.

The Bangkok resident, who is Thailand's former ambassador to USA, helped GM achieve a new milestone. For the first time since it began doing business in Asia Pacific in 1915, General Motors has achieved 1 million sales in a single calendar year.

“GM has made the Asia Pacific region a corporate priority,” said Troy Clarke, GM Group Vice President and President of GM Asia Pacific. “With Asia Pacific expected to account for well over 50 percent of global sales growth over the next 10 years, we believe being a major competitor in this region is critical to the overall success of our company."

“Selling 1 million vehicles is a significant achievement and a testament to the hard work of thousands of GM employees around the world,” Clarke added. “It's all the more impressive when you consider that five years ago GM sold fewer than 250,000 vehicles in the region.”

GM products are currently sold in more than 15 countries across the region under the Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Daewoo, Holden, Opel, Saab and Wuling brands. In 2004, GM sold 887,000 vehicles, taking its marketshare in Asia Pacific to 5.2 percent. In the first 11 months of 2005, GM's sales in Asia Pacific rose 19 percent on an annual basis to 953,278 units, giving it an estimated marketshare of 5.8 percent.

“Despite our success in the region, no one at GM is declaring victory,” Clarke said. “This is just the beginning. GM has set ambitious targets for Asia Pacific and huge challenges lie ahead. By introducing new products in a wide range of segments and by meeting consumer demand for high-quality, high-performing cars and trucks, GM will continue to meet and exceed its goals in the region.”

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