General Motors’ European Opel-Vauxhall brands recorded 279,306 vehicle sales during the first quarter of 2015.
The results represent an increase of 3.1 percent on a year-over-year basis, up roughly 8,500 vehicles and tallying up to a market share of 5.83 percent. The brands grew slightly faster than the overall European vehicle market, which was up 2.8 percent year-over-year.
Peter Christian Küspert, Vice President Sales and Aftersales, Opel Group, was pleased with market share growth in a total of 11 European markets. “In countries like the UK, Spain, Italy, Poland and Turkey, demand is considerably higher than last year”, Küspert commented. “With our young and attractive model portfolio, we benefit from this.”
On a vehicle basis, the subcompact, Gamma-based Mokka crossover continues to be the shining star. The vehicle leads its segment in countries like Italy and Germany.
On a market basis, Opel surpassed the 50,000 mark for new passenger car registrations in its home market of Germany during the first quarter of 2015. In fact, exactly 51,584 new Opel cars were registered compared to 49,965 a year ago, giving Opel a Q1 2015 market share of 6.8 percent in Germany. For the quarter, Opel’s best month in Germany was March as the brand increased new car registrations to 23,044 units compared to 22,131 in March 2014. The performance gave Opel a market share of 7.1 percent in March in its home market.
Meanwhile, the Opel-Vauxhall light commercial vehicle (LCV) business showed a clear upward trend; Opel improved market share in the European LCV field to 4.2 percent in the first quarter of 2015 — the best quarterly market share since 2009 — thanks to the new Vivaro and Movano models.
Recognizing the vast opportunity in the LCV space, Peter Christian Küspert stated that, “The LCV business offers tremendous potential for growth and it is a key pillar of our long-term plan DRIVE! 2022.”
Comments
Opel has a pretty well rounded line up aside from new crossovers.
Opel, damaged add it may be, should be holding more than 7% market share considering it sells better product that VW at a lower price.
GM needs to ship Envision and possibly even Enclave to Europe ASAP. A low cost Sonic varient to be sold along side Karl makes sense too.
VW products and VAG group is currently gone. this is bad thing.
there is no need to lie. VW is currently gone. And all the VAG group has done a super job and the VAG group itself is just very strong. VAG group and still evolving and growing. VAG Group has been a model for many others. possible that even in the BMW remains behind.
VW products, the level is very high and rising. vw is unfortunately impossible to catch
OPC. I guess what you’re saying (courtesy of your translation programme) is that in Europe VAG has left the rest of the market for dead – and you’re right. Fifteen years ago Corsa B was Europe’s best-selling car and Astra was neck and neck with Golf.
But with the launch of Golf IV, VAG upped their game (independent rear suspension as opposed to torsion beams; great interior fit and finish; crisp styling) and the rest is now history. Even former lame-duck Seat is now delivering great product and it shows in their growing sales.
Meanwhile back at GM Europe, Corsa E is just a makeover (albeit good) of the previous generation and it’s still sitting on an old platform. And it’s the same story for Astra K when it’s released this coming autumn.
Opel/Vauxhall’s former mainstream competitors have all moved upmarket and GME (along with Peugeot-Citroen, Renault, Fiat) all missed that boat. Now they’re fighting Kia, Hyundai, Skoda and Seat.
Take heed GMNA … lack of investment in quality platforms and materials during the noughties is the main reason for GME’s decline and subsequent years of losses. Sure, the green shoots are starting to show again, but it’s a long road back and even if profitable in 2016, it’s a longer road ahead still. Keep with the programme GM, and keep the accountants locked up in their bunkers. Car guys and engineers are what’s needed to finish the job!
That and the continuing loyalty of Brits to the Vauxhall brand!
No need to worry on that score Rocketman you can always rely on the UK & Vauxhall!
I beg to differ Vauxhall & Opel are not in competition with peugoet, Citroen, Renault, Fiat, Kia, Hyundai, Skoda & Seat they are more upmarket than these makes
Of the 279,306 Q1 European sales, Vauxhall in the UK accounted for 86,212 (or 31%) with an overall UK market share of 10.3%.
Viva/Karl is a low cost high spec entry model that’s considerably cheaper than the out-going Agila, Should appeal strongly to the youth market. I’m certain it will be a hit in the UK at least, and quite probably segment leader if they get the marketing right on launch.
I concur with bringing in Envision to replace ageing Antara/Captiva, but Enclave is too large for mainstream Europe – note Audi Q7 has just been down-sized.
We also need a pick-up like the Holden Colorado to compete in the leisure market with Ford, VW, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Toyota and Nissan. GM Europe amazingly abandoned this sector just as it was starting to grow! How’s that for short-sightedness.
This is only passat. look youtube passat b8 or passat 2015. cars are not only comparable size. the most important thing is the technology, quality, design and so on.
the automotive industry is a very very tough. if car manufacturers want to be proud of your personal products. EU and the US should learn to know each other better, and especially GM. GM and Ford are the only sellsies situation in the automotive industry who are US and EU concerns. Ford also is studying hard and as well as the GM. However, there is still much to learn.
one of the drawbacks is that Ford and GM did not understand each other, but they have begun to do this job seriously, and the results are better. Ford US and the EU. GM US and the EU.
and has been hampered by the lack of understanding of each other’s developments. However, there is still a lot more to learn and do as much eye remains obscure topics. just different cultures and beliefs. If we want to cooperate or compete with all that it has to take into consideration. This makes the situation more difficult to GM and Ford. but it may also get a lot of good. it all depends on the leadership and the will to work.
the best-selling car is not an argument. where Opel cars sold no more than the BMW, Opel will not immediately improved.
It is already known that VW wants its products to BMW, Audi, MB group. vag vw seriously engaged in this group. whether they want the vag vw group leader it is unclear, however, even as it seems. and must be a realist, that the VAG group is difficult if not impossible to fight.
such a thing would not happen to like the VW products have imagined. But vag vw products began seriously in about 2000.
VAG Group now has vw production even suit me.
it would not have guessed that the VW goes away. But VAG group is too strong and is growing every day and buys and develops the world’s largest, and strong brands in its portfolio. unfortunately, it has to accept it. I can not imagine how Opel VW would be able to compete with the products. vw is actually just another level.
Today, Opel will not even be able to compete even guess skoda and seat I do not know
French car manufacturers are also very strong. I do not know how much the Germans, Frenchmen compare. Did the Germans are stronger but French manufacturers are also very strong. French products are like me and like it. But the haters haters are all producers. and of course the trolls.
I really like French products
New Renault Laguna and Citroen C5 will come, I think, very strong. vw, and it pays to be cautious and afraid.
old or current Citroen C5 is pretty strong