Opel Returns to Algerian Market

• Opel Mokka, Astra and Grandland available to order from November 19
• Sales partner in Algeria is Halil Commerce & Industrie (HCI)
• Opel further strengthens its market position in the MEA region

Opel is launching three models on the Algerian market. The Opel Mokka, Astra and Grandland will be available to order from November 19, 2023. This was announced by Opel CEO Florian Huettl, Hakim Boutehra, Managing Director of Stellantis Maghreb, and Nassim Benguergoura, General Manager of Halil Commerce & Industrie (HCI), at a press conference in Algiers earlier today. The German brand is thus returning to Algeria after six years. In 2017, the government at the time imposed an import ban on new vehicles.

“Today is a great day for the Opel brand, which is returning to Algeria. I am convinced that our state-of-the-art vehicles will delight Algerian customers and meet a wide range of mobility needs. Opel stands for German engineering, bold and pure design and efficient drivetrains,” said Opel CEO Huettl in Algiers.

Opel is thus consistently continuing its expansion into markets outside of Europe. The German manufacturer has already recorded a 60 per cent increase in sales there in 2023 compared to the same period of last year. With Algeria, a new market is now being added in the so-called MEA region (Middle East & Africa). Opel is already active in a further 13 countries in this region, including Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, South Africa and Turkey. In total, Opel is represented in 30 markets outside of Europe.

Opel will sell its vehicles in Algeria through the importer Halil Commerce & Industrie, which already has a further Stellantis brand in Fiat in its showrooms.

Export Offensive Continues: Opel Announces Importer for Lebanon

Opel Astra Sports Tourer & Opel Astra

Opel is continuing its export offensive. The company has signed an agreement with the renowned A.N. Boukather Holding which will become the exclusive sales partner of the German brand for the Lebanese market.

A.N. Boukather Holding will be responsible for importing, selling and servicing Opel vehicles in Lebanon as of March 2018. A.N. Boukather Holding is a rich in tradition and professional partner, focused on delivering highest levels of customer services. An exclusive showroom displaying the Opel cars will be opened in July 2018 in Beirut, with further representation around the country to follow.

“Lebanon is a trendsetting market in the Middle East with significant potential for Opel. The Astra range as well as Opel Crossland X and Opel Grandland X are a perfect match. Being successful in this market is important for our further expansion in the Middle East and Africa,” says Bill Mott, Director International Operations, Opel Automobile GmbH.

Increasing sales significantly in markets outside of Europe is one of the key pillars of the PACE! company plan, which will pave the company’s way back to sustainable profitability. Opel targets doubling overseas sales by 2020. The goal is to generate 10 percent of the Opel sales volume outside of Europe by the mid-2020s. To reach this, the brand will further strengthen its presence in 15 export markets in Asia, Africa and South America where it is already present today and will enter more than 20 new export markets by 2022.

The announcement of an importer for Lebanon is the next step in the implementation process of the strategic plan. In recent months, the car manufacturer from Rüsselsheim has already announced the decision to assemble Opel vehicles for the African market in Namibia and named renowned new trading partners in South Africa, Morocco and Tunisia.

!NEW! GM sales in Africa continues to grow

General Motors South Africa today reaffirmed its growth plans in Africa at a media briefing held in Johannesburg.

According to Mario Spangenberg, President of GM Africa, the company has invested over R1.7 billion in its Africa operations in recent years. He said the investment was geared at strengthening the company’s manufacturing base in North Africa through its Egypt operation and in Sub-Saharan Africa through its South Africa and Kenya operations. “We are now ideally placed to service our markets across the continent through these three assembly plants and also our footprint of over 300 dealers,” Spangenberg said.

As the company continues to grow its sales volumes in African markets, particularly in the light commercial vehicle segment, Spangenberg said it was important to focus on efficient and competitive manufacturing operations in all three countries – South Africa, Kenya and Egypt. “In addition, we are also expanding our distribution footprint across the continent and ensure effective and quality after sales service to our customers.”

To this end General Motors has seen 17 new facilities and show rooms open in Angola, Madagascar, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Algeria (4) Egypt (4) and Ghana in the last 18 months. “Later this year new dealerships will open in Uganda and Mauritius,” said Spangenberg.

Meanwhile the 38 000 m²  Parts Distribution Centre located in Port Elizabeth is now fully geared up to provide the required parts and service support to distributors on the continent.

Spangenberg said despite the decline in sales in the automotive industry in Africa during the first seven months of the year, GM sales continued to grow. “Within our Africa Operations we sold around 107 000 vehicles during the first seven months of this year. Overall our sales in Africa were up almost 7% versus an industry decline of 4.9%,

“We have achieved tremendous success in some key markets during this period versus the same period last year. Egypt sales were up 16.5% while Tunisia were up 34.6% and in East Africa volumes went up 32.5%. In Sub-Saharan markets (outside of South Africa and including East Africa) we were up 28.8%.

To keep momentum going on the sales front, Spangenberg said GM will continue to bring outstanding products to market. “Over the next 12 months, we will be launching 10 new vehicles into our Africa markets.  Of these new vehicles, 7 will be launched in the South African market.”