SGMW to export Baojun 630 as Chevy Optra

According to SGMW, the joint venture of SAIC Motor Corporation Limited and Liuzhou Wuling Motors Co Limited and General Motors China, will start exporting its Baojun 630 sedan to North Africa late this year. The Baojun 630, which sits on the old Buick Excelle platform, will be badged as the Chevrolet Optra in the African region.

SGMW's Baojun 630 sedan [Photo/cnautonews.com]

SGMW launched the Baojun brand in 2011 to penetrate China's entry-level market for passenger cars. Baojun, which means "treasured horse", also sells the Le Chi minicar, a localised version of the previous-gen Chevrolet Spark. An MPV and a hatchback will be added to the Baojun range next year. For the first nine months of 2013, Baojun sales in China rose nearly 28 percent to 69,187 units.

The JV already exports the Wuling Rong Guang minivan and the Hong Guang MPV to various markets, and this new Baojun 630 or Chevrolet Optra deal will further boost figures.