GM sees China sales rising 50 pct in 2009

GUANGZHOU Nov 23 (Reuters) - General Motors expects its China sales to rise 50 percent in 2009 and increase 10 to 15 percent in 2010, a company executive said on Monday.

The company sold 1.5 million vehicles in China so far this year, Kevin Wale, president of GM's China operations, told Reuters on the sidelines of the Guangzhou Autoshow.

General Motors' China vehicle sales in October more than doubled from a year earlier to 166,911 and the Detroit carmaker and joint ventures sold 1.46 million vehicles from January to October.

"We've been changing the full-year forecast every month," said Wale, referring to the automaker's 2009 forecast.

The company is also looking at whether to increase its investments in Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries and India, two important markets for the company. (Reporting by Alison Leung; Editing by Chris Lewis) ((alison.leung@thomsonreuters.com; +852 2843-1631; Reuters Messaging: alison.leung.reuters.com@reuters.net)) ((If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com))