(Yicai Global) Jan. 5 -- General Motors Co. [NYSE:GM] and its joint ventures sold more than 4 million vehicles in China for the first time last year after the company introduced new offerings, the US automaker said in a press release.

Sales rose 4.4 percent from 2016's record high of 3.87 million to 4.04 million last year. The Detroit-based car manufacturers' Cadillac, Buick and Baojun brands posted record volumes in China, which was the group's largest marker for the sixth year in a row.

GM rolled out 18 new and updated models in China last year. "The improved product mix contributed to robust performance across segments -- especially sport utility vehicles and luxury vehicles," the company said. "GM's SUV sales in China surged 37 percent last year."

"We will continue to bring the right products and technology to market to meet increasingly diverse demands for personal mobility," said Matt Tsien, GM executive vice president and president of GM China.

"Super Cruise driver assist technology reached the final stage of feature verification in China with local partners and will soon be available in the domestic market," the company said.