General Motors’ European brands Opel-Vauxhall sold 72,200 vehicles in Europe in January 2015, an increase of 7.4 percent compared to January 2014.
The results make Opel the fastest-growing brand among the top five car brands in Europe, which include Volkswagen and Ford. In fact, the arm outperformed the overall market by one percent, growing Opel’s share of the European market in January 2015 by more than 0.3 percentage points to roughly 5.4 percent.
The brands increased its sales in 15 markets and the market share was up in 13 markets. Sales improvements in several Western European markets were as follows:
- France — up 34 percent
- Italy — up 29 percent
- Spain — up roughly 23 percent
- UK (Vauxhall’s home and only market) — up 13 percent
- Germany — up roughly 9 percent
- Portugal – up roughly 66 percent
On a model basis, Opel’s new models helped the brand grow in Europe:
- Corsa sales totaled almost 22,000 units, up roughly 45 percent
- ADAM sales totaled around 4,500 units, up roughly 33 percent
- Mokka sales were up 17 percent
- Meriva sales were up almost 23 percent
“The good start to the year despite some difficult circumstances is proof that our product offensive is working,” said Peter Christian Küspert, Vice President Sales & Aftersales Opel Group. “The new Corsa, KARL and the new Astra coming later this year will all help increase sales.”
To note, the sales results presented here have been provided by GM. Official sales results from ACEA, the governing body behind European automotive sales reporting, become available later this month, and may be different than the results provided here due to differences in market lines and recording sales vs. registrations.
Comments
The Economist left Opel for dead last year. Now, we see the GM plan taking shape: better than VW (the space between VW and Audi) but for a Skoda price.
A race to the bottom is Opel’s only option. Buick quality at Kia pricing will up volume, needed due to over capacity.
GM still must close factories. They got greedy, running East to Poland in search of cheap labor. GM can only maintain current factories if the US/EU free trade pact gotta into effect. Even then, Korea must be downsized in favor of Spain and UK.
Don’t fool yourself: in Europe, Opel is on the same level as VW. Not above or below it.
is not so simple. VAG croup going to quote from it. led by VW and SKODA. VW SKODA, and new models can not think of anything negative to say. as well as other products for VAG group are, of course, and the seat. It’s nice that Opel is going to be better, and I hope that Opel will be opened, and you will be a serious loss to focus on building cars, and can be better than the VW. Opel corsa e and Karl is really a mess. I hope that the new Astra will be very strong. The new Astra will certainly be better than golf because golf 7 of 7 is basically a facelift golf 6 new astral must also be awd option.
The car market is very tough. The fact that the cars are sold does not mean anything. Cars must also be of high quality. VAG is selling very much, and they are of good quality and the prices are not the cheapest. There is a constantly development. At the Opel Corsa e and Karl are so many things which point to that horrible.
Opel has to do sometime in larger steps to overcome vw.
I mean perfect. not sales figures. VW sales to anyone who wants to go along.