GMC to expand to Australia, New Zealand and China

GMC on Friday said it's expanding into Australia, New Zealand and China starting with the launch of the Yukon full-size SUV.

The premium General Motors Co. brand is expecting to begin selling in China in 2024 followed by the other markets in 2025. It's the latest expansion for GMC after it last year brought the Sierra LD pickup truck to South Korea on top of established operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Middle East.

“GMC is in the most exciting era in its history as we expect to grow competitively in our home market while venturing into new ones,” Duncan Aldred, global vice president of GMC and Buick, said in a statement. “We’re forging our future as a premium truck and SUV brand and our success shows our customers around the world are just as excited as we are for the road ahead.”

GMC's U.S. sales rose 9% last year, including a 6.5% boost in retail sales. It had its best overall results since 2017.

But the automaker is facing stiff competition in markets like China, where domestic manufacturers are increasingly gobbling up market share, aided by low cost structures.

Meanwhile, in 2020, GM had said it was winding down its sales, design and engineering operations in Australia and New Zealand, including the retirement of the Holden brand.

bnoble@detroitnews.com

@BreanaCNoble