Summary:

The article reports that General Motors Corp. (GM) would protect its Chinese unit and the Buick brand if it files for bankruptcy. Terry Johnsson, vice president in charge of sales, service and marketing at Shanghai General Motors Corp. says that his company would not be at risk if GM files for Chapter 11 reorganization in the U.S.

Excerpt from Article:

Dateline: SHANGHAI —

General Motors' profitable Chinese unit, and the Buick brand it relies on, would be protected if the automaker files for bankruptcy, a senior executive here says.

And Buicks increasingly will be tailored to Chinese tastes, with those changes feeding back to the U.S. market.

Terry Johnsson says Shanghai General Motors Corp., where he is vice president in charge of sales, service and marketing, won't be at risk if GM files for Chapter 11 reorganization in the United States.

"We don't think it will be affected at all," Johnsson told Automotive News on the sidelines of the Shanghai motor show last week. "Any scenario for transforming the company is always going to treasure those parts of the business that are generating cash."

Johnsson said that all the restructuring plans for GM that he has seen keep programs and product launches "very protected" in China, he says. Both Washington and Detroit see China as key to any GM comeback, he says. "You've got to play in China."

GM's China operations are a rare bright spot for the troubled carmaker.

In March, GM booked a 24.6 percent sales increase in China to a monthly record of 137,004 units.…