GM: China operation won't be affected

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General Motors' fast-growing China operation says it will not be affected by its parent company's bankruptcy filing. GM in China says it is planning to open a new factory within five years even as the automaker closes facilities in the U.S.. The automaker also says its China operation will be the "critical" part of a new GM.

GM's business in China has been a rare bright spot.

The century-old auto giant has almost 25,000 employees and eight joint ventures in China, the world's biggest auto market.

Shanghai GM is a major one.

It is reassuring consumers that warrantees, service and financing won't be affected despite GM's bankruptcy filing in New York.

The company is also hoping to have a new role to play.

Ding Lei , president of Shanghai GM, said, "We're very confident to say that our pan-Asia Technical Automotive Center has formed a complete and advanced technology development system. We are able to guarantee the development of GM's technology and products."

The confidence comes with good reason.

GM China's sales in the first five months of the year rose 33 percent over the same period in 2008 to 670,000 vehicles.

Demand is so strong that GM China expects to add another factory within five years.

The company says sales in May even surged 75 percent from a year earlier.

Wale also says GM China is aiming to double sales in the country to about two million within the next five years.