General Motors' Chinese sales soared 97 percent in January from a year earlier to a record high of 219,192 units, the auto maker said Thursday.

The United States company said it's the first time for its sales to go past the 200,000-unit milestone.

"Demand in January was strong in nearly all market segments," said Kevin Wale, president and managing director of the GM China Group. "It is a positive sign for 2010 as a whole following last year's industry record."

Like its rivals, including Volkswagen, Toyota and Nissan, GM benefitted from the growing sales momentum backed by the Chinese government's massive stimulus measures.

The biggest international auto maker in China also expanded output to ride on the demand.

Toyota said its January sales in China rose 53 percent to 72,000 units.

Sales of GM's flagship passenger car venture Shanghai GM jumped 150 percent annually to 90,202 units, while its minivan venture SAIC-GM-Wuling drove to record sales of 119,969 units in January, a 59.6 percent jump year on year.

"GM continues to address the needs of our customers," Wale said. "Our goal is to remain the market leader among global auto makers in the world's largest vehicle market."

In January, GM rolled out the Buick Excelle XT five-door coupe and a new Chevrolet Sail to tap the low-price vehicle segment to compete with domestic rivals.

Earlier media reports said GM is studying to build a new plant in China and it planned to roll out 30 new or revamped models in the country from 2009 to 2014.