Reuters reported that General Motors Co hopes to soon wrap up efforts to buy back a 1% stake in its Chinese joint venture that it previously sold to its partner SAIC Motor.

Mr Dan Akerson GM CEO said "It's in process. We hope that will be resolved in the coming months. I know it's been to their board."

Mr Akerson and other GM executives have repeatedly said the company has the option to raise its ownership stake in Shanghai GM, its Chinese joint venture with SAIC to 50% from the present 49%.

GM sold a 1% stake in Shanghai GM to SAIC in 2010 for about USD 85 million. The joint venture is the biggest automaker in China. Under the terms of its deal with SAIC, negotiated in 2009 when GM was looking to raise cash and avoid bankruptcy, GM has an option to buy back that 1% stake. SAIC is the majority shareholder in the China joint venture with a 51% holding.

Separately, GM China President Kevin Wale said the automaker expects its sales in that country to outpace the industry expected 2012 growth rate of 7% to 10%.

Wale also said GM will add more than 200 dealers in China this year to the 2,700 it had at the end of 2011. Of those about 150 will be Buick and Chevrolet combined about 30 will be Cadillac and about 50 will be for the joint venture China brand, Baojun.

(Sourced from Reuters)