New importer: Opel strengthens business in Israel

• Fresh start: Lubinski Group has taken over as importer
• Lubinski successfully sells Peugeot, Citroën and DS Automobiles vehicles in Israel
• Profitable sales growth outside Europe important pillar of PACE! plan

Opel sold some 3,000 vehicles in Israel in 2018. Top-sellers are the SUVs Opel Crossland X and Opel Grandland X 

Fresh start for Opel in Israel: The company has just started a new partnership with the renowned sales partner Lubinski Group. From now on, Lubinski will import and sell the vehicles of the German carmaker on the Israeli market. The importer already has a long and successful tradition as sales partner of the other Groupe PSA brands Peugeot, Citroën and DS Automobiles in Israel. Going forward, the new set-up will strengthen Opel’s position in this important market in the Middle East considerably.

“We have taken a further important step that will aid our growth outside of Europe by teaming up with Lubinski, a highly professional partner with a long experience in the market known for its outstanding customer services,” said Bill Mott, Director International Operations, Opel Automobile GmbH. “We are confident that our brand will perform even better in Israel with this new set-up.”

Opel sold some 3,000 vehicles in Israel in 2018. Top-sellers are the SUVs Crossland X and Grandland X and with the new importer, Opel is aiming to grow profitably going forward.

Increasing profitable sales significantly in export markets outside of Europe is one of the key pillars of the PACE! plan. 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 is further strengthening its presence in the export markets in Asia, Africa and South America where it is already present today. It will also enter more than 20 new export markets by 2022 – including the comeback in Russia this year still. 

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! Opel Rüsselsheim Plant Debut: First Insignia for Holden

• Start of regular production of the Holden Insignia VXR in the main plant in Rüsselsheim
• Insignia, Astra and Cascada new in the portfolio of the Australian sister brand
• Intensified cooperation with the other GM brands

First Insignia for Australia: Start of regular production of the Holden Insignia VXR in the main plant in Rüsselsheim.

Cooperation between Opel and its sister brands within General Motors has entered a new era. The first Holden rolled off the production line in Rüsselsheim today – a Silver Lake coloured Insignia VXR with 325 hp for the markets in Australia and New Zealand. Opel wants to intensify the cooperation with the other GM brands continuously in the years to come. The production of Holden vehicles plays an important part in this strategy.

Thumbs up: Rüsselsheim plant director Axel Scheiben (left), Opel CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann and the production team with the first Holden Insignia made in Germany.

“We will work closely with our Australian partner whenever it makes sense in the coming years,” said Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann. “It is not only further proof for the development expertise of our engineers and the attractiveness of our products it also increases the capacity utilization of our plants. We are delighted that our successful flagship will also be available in Australia and New Zealand.”

“Astra, Cascada and Insignia are renowned in Europe for their performance credentials and premium execution, making them the perfect addition to Holden’s range as we continue to offer more choice for our customers,” said Bill Mott, Holden Executive Director of Marketing.

Opel Insignia OPC

The Holden Insignia VXR is known as the Opel Insignia OPC in mainland Europe. The Rüsselsheim-based carmaker announced in May 2014 that it would be exporting European vehicles under the Holden badge from 2015.

In addition to the Insignia VXR, the Astra GTC and the especially sporty Astra VXR (the equivalent of the Astra OPC) will also be exported to Australia and New Zealand as Holdens. The elegant Cascada convertible will complete the line-up.

Holden Cascada convertible and Astra VXR

Holden and Opel share very similar core brand values, including the commitment to performance, engineering excellence, vehicle dynamics and technology. In future, Holden will source roughly one third of its future product line-up from Opel.

The GM-internal cooperation with Holden is not the only one announced by Opel in recent months. A few weeks ago, Buick presented the Cascada convertible at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Buick Cascada convertible

Furthermore, it was announced last year that Opel would produce a new Buick model for the US market in Rüsselsheim later this decade.

New Buick Envision