GM Defying China Slowdown May Reclaim Sales Lead From Toyota

General Motors Co. and Volkswagen AG expect to boost vehicle sales in China faster than the nation’s economic growth rate, defying government policies to curb sales and threatening Toyota Motor Corp.’s standing as the world’s largest carmaker.

GM, the largest U.S. automaker, plans to double sales in China to 5 million vehicles by 2015, the Detroit-based company said at this week’s Shanghai auto show. Germany’s Volkswagen, the biggest maker of passenger cars in China, said it may outpace industrywide sales growth of as much as 12 percent.