AFSCME 3357-HOF'S BLOG

GM is Wuling on Sunshine in China
GM Joint Venture Selling 300,000 minivans/yr

GM may have pulled out of the minivan business in the US, but in China, sales of its minivan/minibus, the Wuling Sunshine (produced by SAIC-GM-Wuling), are booming. Sales are up more than 50% this year to 300,000 per year. At a price equivalent to $5,000 US, the Sunshine is affordable to the new Chinese middle class. The same vehicle platform forms the basis of a broad range of commercial vehicles including box trucks, flatbed trucks and an extended-bed pick-up truck.

The Wuling Sunshine is more of a people-mover minibus than an American/Japanese style minivan. It has a 47-75 horsepower engine, 1/4 of the power of American vans, but still seats 7 people. It weighs about 3400 lbs, about the same as a Saturn Aura and 1000 lbs less than an American minivan. With a 98 inch wheelbase, and a 145 inch overall length, we'd consider it to be a subcompact car. For more specs click this link.