GMs Korean Operations Reach Milestone: 10 Million Units Exported Driven By Trailblazer And Trax Crossover
GM started operations in Korea in October 2002. The company exported 1 million units in 2005 and reached 5 million in 2011. If exports of domestic products in the form of completely knocked down (CKD) units for overseas assembly are included, the figure would be more close to 25 million units.
To celebrate this latest milestone, the company held an event for employees and managers at its Bupyeong plant today, led by Hector Villarreal, president and CEO of GM Korea.
"Reaching 10 million units exported is a testament to the dedication of our entire team in Korea, who are committed to ensuring that our customers who trust and love our vehicles consistently receive the highest quality products," said Villarreal. “In fact, last October GM accounted for almost 20% of the country's total car exports. These figures further highlight the important role Korea plays as part of GM's global growth strategy."
Over the past 21 years, GM has produced a wide range of vehicles in Korea, meeting the growing preferences and demands of domestic and international customers. Its lineup includes the current Trax and Trailblazer crossovers, as well as flagships like the Chevrolet Aveo, Spark, Trax, Cruze and Malibu.GM domestic vehicles were exported worldwide, primarily to North America (35%) and Western Europe (26%), with the largest export market being the United States, where more than 2.5 million vehicles were sold. The Chevrolet Aveo was the most exported model with around 2.21 million units sold. They were followed by Spark and Trax with exports of around 1.94 million units and 1.78 million units respectively.
The Chevrolet Trailblazer and Trax crossovers contributed 612,000 and 136,000 units to exports, respectively, marking the seventh and ninth largest export increases for GM's Korean operations, despite their tight production schedules. They played an important role in the company's export success, contributing to its continued growth.
According to the Korea Automobile and Mobile Association, the Trailblazer sold 176,123 units in overseas markets from January to October 2023, helped by its sophisticated design and strong market appeal. This puts small SUVs at the forefront of domestic passenger vehicle export growth during this period.
While its global market debut is expected in February 2023, the Trax crossover quickly became the top domestic passenger vehicle export for four consecutive months from June to September, according to the Korea Automobile and Mobile Association. Additionally, since inception, cumulative exports from GM's Korean operations reached 380,151 units through November, an impressive 84.8% increase over the same period last year.
GM plans to produce 500,000 vehicles a year in Korea, focusing on the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Trax crossovers. The company plans to further contribute to the Korean economy by optimizing production and exporting these two models in large quantities.
Since GM started operating in Korea, the company has played an important role in the manufacturing industry and has become the largest Korean FDI in the country's economy. It has created hundreds of thousands of jobs through domestic car manufacturing, sales and exports, as well as global car design and development. In addition, GM is actively promoting overall growth in the Korean automotive industry ecosystem by working closely with component suppliers.Copyright © acrofan. All rights reserved.
