General Motors to launch new premium import business in China

General Motors plans to form a new, independently owned premium brand in China that will market what the automaker’s chief in the country, Julian Blissett, recently described as “halo cars” brought in from the United States.

The automaker prepares to build this new “premium import business” from the ground up and run it with “a high level of autonomy,” the automaker said.

“Halo cars,” as described by Blissett, refer to premium, often high-performance vehicles that have an edgy design.

“We are inviting talent from across the industry to join us and jointly create our brand-new business in China,” it said.

The U.S. automaker released the statement after multiple Chinese media outlets reported this week about the new wholly-owned brand.

Blissett told Chinese media outlets the new business will be entirely owned by GM, the spokesperson said.

More details of the business will be announced at a later date.