According to a leaked document, General Motors is planning on selling Chinese-built cars to Americans in the near future.

The document does not specifically state which vehicle or vehicles could be exported to the U.S., but it does suggest that small cars would be the focus. There is speculation that it could be a sub-compact like the Chevy Spark, but a Buick model might also be a possibility.

What is clear, however, are the numbers, as GM plans to import as many as 17,335 vehicles from China to the U.S. by 2011. This number would then grow to 50,000 by 2014.

If GM does in fact go through with the plan, it would be the first successful attempt by an automaker to import Chinese-made cars. Several Chinese automakers have declared interest in the U.S. marketplace but so far none have succeeded, due in part to the high safety and emissions standards in the U.S. as well as poor consumer confidence.

Moving production to China would easily help the automaker reduce manufacturing costs. However, it would also be viewed as a betrayal of domestic workers.

[Source: detnews.com]