Sales increase of around four percent in the first eight months
New registrations up in more than 19 European countries
Rüsselsheim. Opel added another chapter to its ongoing success story in August with strong growth across Europe. According to preliminary numbers, the Rüsselsheim-based carmaker increased sales in August by more than 7,300 vehicles or 12.8 percent compared to the same period of 2014 to around 64,500 units. Opel therefore outgrew the overall European vehicle market (plus 4.1 percent) more than threefold. Opel’s market share is up by more than 0.4 percentage points to 5.71 percent. The overall result for the first eight months of the year is also positive – despite Opel pulling out of the Russian market. From January to August, the brand sold over 735,000 vehicles – around four percent or 27,300 units more than during the same period of last year. This is equivalent to a market share of 5.83 percent.
“This sales success is mainly down to our new models that are extremely popular with the customers across Europe. The new Astra, which will celebrate its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show and is a real quantum leap, will add additional drive to our sales,” said Peter Christian Küspert, Vice President Sales and Aftersales of the Opel Group.
Opel and its British sister brand Vauxhall posted an increase in volume in more than 19 European markets for the first eight months of 2015 including Germany (+3 percent), the UK (+3 percent), France (+6 percent), Spain (+17 percent), Portugal (+18 percent), Poland (+18 percent), Italy (+20 percent) and Turkey (+34 percent).
Opel recorded its highest market share for August on its home market Germany since 2011 – with a 7.2 percent share of the overall vehicle market and a 7.5 percent share of the passenger car market. Opel also achieved its best market share for August since 2011 in the Netherlands (5.8 percent) and in the Czech Republic, the company recorded its best market share for August since 2001 (5.31 percent). The brand with the Blitz claimed top spot on the Hungarian passenger car market in August with a market share of 12.31 percent. Opel’s sister brand Vauxhall was the second on the UK passenger car market in August (11.27 percent market share) and for the first eight months of the year (10.29 percent market share). Furthermore, Opel took second place on the Spanish passenger car market in August.
One of the reasons behind Opel’s success in the first eight months of the year can be credited to the light commercial vehicle section. Sales are up by 25.4 percent to 65,350 units compared to the same period of last year. The market share increased by more than 0.5 percentage points to around four percent. All three light commercial vehicle models recorded an increase of sales. Movano sales were up by around 32 percent, Vivaro sales by more than 34 percent and the Combo posted an increase of around 14 percent.
