!NEW! Opel Continues Upwards Trend on European Market

• In June overall European vehicle market sales increased by 6 percent
• First half-year 2014 growth of 4 percent well above same year-ago period
• Market share gains in eleven European countries including Germany

New Opel Insignia registrations increased by almost 50 percent last year.

Opel remains one of the winners on the European vehicle market: in June the manufacturer increased new vehicle registrations by 6 percent over the same year-ago period. With this growth, the company clearly distanced itself from overall market developments, which hovered just under last year’s June level. With around 109,000 new vehicles sold, share of the overall European vehicle market rose by 0.4 percentage points to 6.4 percent according to preliminary figures.

Opel also sold considerably more cars in the first half of the year compared to the same year-ago period. From January to June, the brand increased sales by 4 percent to around 564,000 vehicles, a slight increase in share of the overall vehicle market to 5.9 percent. This put Opel’s growth at one percentage point higher than overall market growth.

“The first half-year results clearly underline that we are on the right track. Especially our new models have joined the ranks of top sellers, including the sub-compact Mokka SUV, which over 245,000 customers have already chosen. And our model offensive continues: the new Vivaro as well as the new Corsa that comes to market this year will give us even more momentum,” says Board Member for Sales Peter Christian Küspert.

Opel Mokka SUV

In June and in the first six months of this year, Opel gained market shares in eleven European markets. The clear upswing was also apparent in Germany, where share of the overall vehicle market increased in the first six months by around 0.3 percentage points to 7 percent. In June, market share even reached 7.6 percent, an increase of around 0.9 percentage points compared to last year and the highest market share since December 2011. On the passenger car market alone, Opel achieved a market share of 8 percent in June, according to the German Federal Office for Motor Vehicles (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, KBA).

Opel Zafira Tourer MPV

Opel Mokka was number one in the SUV segment in the first six months of the year in Germany. New Insignia registrations increased by almost 50 percent during this period compared to last year. But also the established models in the Opel portfolio, such as the Zafira Tourer, were successful. Opel Zafira Tourer was number two in the large van segment in both June and in the first half of the year. 

In the UK, Vauxhall clearly reinforced its position as the second largest passenger car brand in the first half of the year. In June, the brand grew its share of the overall British vehicle market by more than one-half percentage point to 11.9 percent, taking second place in registration statistics. In both time periods, the Insignia and Zafira lead their segments, while the Corsa and Mokka were both second in their segments.

In Spain, the brand achieved a market share of 7.67 percent in the first half of the year. This was the best result since 2006 and put it in second place in the Spanish registration statistics. In June market share even reached 8 percent. In Hungary, Opel was market leader in the overall vehicle market in June and in the first six months of the year.