General Motors’ top Chinese executive says US unlikely to retain auto sales lead from China

GM exec: China likely to keep auto sales lead

DETROIT — General Motors Co.’s top Chinese executive says it’s unlikely the U.S. will ever retake the title of world’s largest auto market from China.

GM China Group President Kevin Wale says China had huge auto sales growth last year and predicted it could rise to 15.5 million vehicles in 2010.

China overtook the U.S. as the biggest market last year with an estimated 13.6 million in sales. Only 10.4 million light vehicles were sold in the U.S. last year. It was the worst sales year since 1982 as the economic uncertainty kept buyers out of showrooms.

Wale says U.S. sales would have to rise more than 5 million this year just to catch China, which he says is unlikely.