Opel continues to build steam in the Chinese market, and is displaying its products at the 2013 Shanghai Motor Show through April 20-29, after a five year absence. On display will be the Insignia Sport Tourer wagon, Zafira Tourer MPV, Astra GTC hot-hatch, and Antara crossover.
The new models represent three types of vehicles, becoming more and more popular among China’s growing younger generation: station wagons, MPV’s and coupes. The Zafira Tourer and Astra GTC will go on sale in the second half of 2013. In 2012, Opel sold a total of around 4,500 cars in China with 22 dealers.
Comments
I wish Buick would hurry up and bring this hatch here as a Mini fighter. The Turbo model is a wonderful car. Even for FWD Clarkson had to say good things about it.
I don’t see this as a Mini fighter. It’s too big for that. That honour would be better suited to the Adam. But the more I think about it, the more I really think it has a role to play in the Buick lineup. This would surely bring the average age of the Buick buyer down a few notches. Would it be a Verano OPC? Or could it be a GSX? Either way I think it’s a decent prospect.
Mini fighter? That’s the Adams job. Astra competes with Focus, Golf, A3, 1 Series, Leon, Civic etc etc.
Are they building these vehicles in China? If not waste of time to show them. Just too expensive to import.
Opel re-enters US Market with a trio of new products, Yes Please…
There are two Opels that need to be here now… Astra GTC and Adam… Hands down the Astra GTC would be my next car…
So, which ones have Buick written all over them? My personal favorite is the 4-dr. hatch.
Adam, Astra… sure would be nice to have these here… Heck make them in mexico or canada if there is no capacity here to bring there cost down… Heck the old Saturn plant… We dont care GM just makem and bring them…
@Vette62:
No, these Opel vehicles are imported from Europe, not built in China.
The original Opel Insignia is built in China as Buick Regal, while the Insignia station wagon is now being imported as Opel Insignia Sports Tourer.
The Opel Astra sedan is built in China as Buick Excelle GT (the US Verano), the Opel Astra 5-door hatch as Buick Excelle XT, now the Opel Astra 3-door hatch is being imported as Opel Astra GTC.
It would be interesting to see how the Opel offering is being displayed at the Shanghai Motor Show, and how far it is integrated with the overall GM presentation (Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Wuling, Jiefang).
And it will be interesting to learn how the Chinese auto buyers react to the obvious similarities of the Astra vs. Exelle cars, and the Insignia vs, Regal models.
There is a different press release on the Opel presence at the Geneva Motor Show to be found at the media.gm.com website for China, both at the general GM page, and at the Buick brand pages…
>>“Opel is pleased to show the people of China the humanity, spirit, vitality and environmental responsibility of GM’s German brand,” said Chen Wenxin, Director of GM China Opel Operations. “By expanding our product offerings, Opel aims to provide a wider range of driving choices to help local consumers enjoy a comfortable lifestyle.”
There is also a link to an “Opel backgrounder” which begins with this paragraph:
“Opel is a key component of General Motors’ multi-brand strategy in China. The imported German vehicle brand has a history of more than 100 years. Its five core values are: impeccable German quality, advanced European styling, outstanding performance, superlative dynamics, and excellent communications with customers and partners. These values embody Opel’s everlasting pursuit of excellence.”
This also officially answers the question about local production or import.
I guess, that when one of those three newly introduced cars turns out to be a big success, it will be produced locally, but as a Buick…
GM should sell Opel import cars as Buicks or as a special line called “Opel” at Buick dealerships throughout China.
I have read in an interview that Opel aims to sell 30k to perhaps 40k units per year in the long run. Perhaps the Astra GTC has the potential to reach that aim but not with only 22 dealers.
Nice cars. Only none American brand I would consider.
I once said Saab was the only import I’d consider
Strange. I thought that you like only the imports from Australia.
I class them as commonwealth so although a import it is not a foreign import.
Just for the record, I like great cars & I don’t waste my money on buying crap. A car is like any other purchase although there is more passion in it than most other things. That said each model should be built to excel in its own market for example a city car should be small, economical & cheap to run, a sports 2 seater should be no compromises road & track focused with RWD and a mid engine etc etc, the very best you can buy within their price structures.
What a waste of money for both GM and Opel! I really like the Opel brand and I wish that Opel would become a truly global brand like Chevy one day, but this strategy doesnt make sense. It would be much easier for Opel to export its cars under the Buick brand to China and they would have a much wider access of dealers than currently there. GM already asked them to export the Cascada. And what about North America? Is there NO market for the Astra 5-door or Astra GTC models!? However, GM needs to learn to act in the long term and not for the next five.
Patience is what is needed, the great products are there they just need to stay the course & sales will follow.
Think GM is missing out on a lot of sales if they would sell such great looking vehicles in US. Call ’em what ever brand they want; Buick, Opel, Chevy, etc. just offer them and they’ll sell them selves.
Have to agree with Hof…
My GF decades ago had an Opel Kadett…what a POS !
I think the Opel Adam is one of the best looking compacts to come around in a long time.
It looks like a winner among all ages, and fun to boot.
I hope that the General brings it over here… with a diesel option as well.