HONG KONG , China ( CNN ) -- As General Motors heads toward insolvency , the company that was once the biggest on the planet is still riding high in the world 's most populous country . China is one bright spot in GM 's dismal fortunes , but U.S. consumer activists have raised concerns . As the storied American company prepares to financially dismantle its operations between good and poor performing assets , GM China is becoming the crown jewel in the company 's operations . `` If there 's a good GM and a bad GM , China is definitely going to be in the good GM side , '' said Michael Dunne , an auto analyst and managing director of J.D . Power and Associates China . But the company 's build-up in China is raising concern for U.S. consumer advocates and members of the U.S. Congress . Of particular concern are plans to build cars for the U.S. market in China after thousands of GM workers were laid off at U.S. plants . `` Do we really want the United States of America to export its auto industry paid for by the taxpayer , and un-employ workers to a dictatorship to a country like China ? '' said consumer advocate Ralph Nader . `` Where 's our self-respect as a nation ? '' Adds U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown , a Democrat from Ohio : `` That can not be a part of their restructuring of this company . Their business plan can not include more outsourcing of jobs while taking taxpayer money . '' Industry analysts say the decision is a simple matter of dollars and cents : GM is now the third-biggest car manufacturer in China , which has recently overtaken the U.S. as the world 's largest car market . `` Our business is run as separate joint-ventures here in China in partnership with SAIC ... so we 're profitable , we fund our own investment and we would be largely independent of any action that took place in the US , '' said Kevin Wale , president and managing director of GM China . `` It seems as though they have enough going on out here that they will remain insulated from the bankruptcy back home , '' adds Dunne . `` I see GM weathering the storm in Asia and holding on to what they 've accomplished here and being able to ride it out here . '' CNN 's Andrew Stevens and Jim Acosta contributed to this report .
GM China is the third largest manufacturer in China . China became the world 's largest car market in recent months . Consumer activists and U.S. politicians deride plans to import GM cars . Nader : Do n't export U.S. auto industry to a `` dictatorship ''