GM names Socia head of Shanghai venture

GM names Socia head of Shanghai venture

2007-05-25


SHANGHAI, May 25 -- General Motors Corp named Robert Socia as head of Shanghai General Motors Co, its biggest venture in China, Bloomberg reported today.


Socia, head of GM's South Africa unit, will replace Chris Gubbey as executive vice president from July 1, Shanghai GM said in a statement today.


Gubbey is set to become head of GM Holden Ltd in Australia, replacing Denny Mooney, who will become GM's vice president of global vehicle systems and integration.


GM aims to boost sales in China, the world's second-largest vehicle market, and other overseas markets as it seeks to stay ahead of Toyota Motor Corp as the world's largest carmaker, Chief Executive Officer Rick Wagoner said in January.


The carmaker's sales in China rose 32 percent last year, compared with an 8.8 percent drop in US sales.


Socia joined GM in 1975 and was Europe vice president for world purchasing before taking the South Africa post, according to the statement.


Shanghai GM, a passenger car venture, is equally owned by the Detroit-based automaker and SAIC Motor Corp, China's largest automaker. GM plans to introduce about ten new and revamped models in China this year.