GM expects record 2014 sales in country: exec

US auto giant General Motors (GM) expects to sell a record number of cars in China this year, an executive said Wednesday, despite a probe of the sector over pricing policies.

"We're on track to surpass 3 million sales for the second consecutive year. We're certainly expected to top last year's record of 3.16 million vehicles," said Matthew Tsien, president of GM China.

China is the world's largest auto market and also GM's largest market. Last year, overall auto sales in the country surged 13.9 percent year-on-year to 21.98 million vehicles.

The National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic planner, is carrying out an antitrust probe into how whole vehicles and spare parts are priced.

Shanghai General Motors, a joint venture between GM and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp, said last month that it was "actively" cooperating with authorities on the issue, and would continue to comply with Chinese laws and policies.

Tsien described the inquiries about spare parts pricing as routine and denied it was an investigation.

"It has had no impact on our business and our operations," he told journalists at a briefing. "We operate in absolute compliance with laws and regulations in this country."

Earlier this month China fined an affiliate of German carmaker Volkswagen more than $40.5 million for fixing prices of cars and repair services for its Audi brand. Leading carmakers Chrysler and BMW were also fined for pricing monopoly.

GM expects the market to grow 8 to 10 percent this year compared to 2013, with its own performance slightly outpacing this, Tsien said, noting the company's current share in China is at 14.7 percent.