Opel Increases Global Sales by a Strong 15% in 2023

• High proportion of electric vehicles: Sales increase of 22% for electric vehicles
• Internationalisation strategy working: 62% increase outside of Europe
• Considerable light commercial vehicle growth: Sales up by 26% 
• Strong growth in the C-segment: Astra and Grandland sales up by 57% 

Opel grew significantly in 2023 with a sales increase of 15%. This is the highest percentage growth rate in more than 20 years. Global sales were up to around 670,000 vehicles giving the German manufacturer its highest registration numbers in four years.

Opel closed 2023 with a market share of around 5.3% on its home market of Germany. In the UK, Vauxhall recorded a market share of six percent. Opel is also very successful in Turkey with a market share of six percent.

“We can look back on a very strong year in 2023. Opel has grown considerably. We have made significant gains, particularly in electric vehicles, across the C-segment and light commercial vehicles. We were also able to significantly expand our international business. This is clear evidence that our strategy is working,” said Opel CEO Florian Huettl.

High proportion of electric vehicles: Sales increase of  22% for electric vehicles

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) were extremely well received by customers. Around 90,000 BEVs sold represent a significant increase of 22 percent compared to previous year. This impressively demonstrates success of Opel’s electrification offensive.

Internationalisation strategy working: 62% increase outside of Europe

Opel grew strongly outside of EU 29 markets last year and increased sales by around 62% to a total of 101,000 vehicles. This corresponds to 15% of the brand’s total sales.

Considerable light commercial vehicle growth: Sales up by 26%

In total, Opel and Vauxhall were able to sell 125,000 light commercial vehicles worldwide, which corresponds to an increase of 26% compared to 2022. Brands secured a leading position among electric vans with around 17,000 units of Combo Electric, Vivaro Electric and Movano Electric sold on the European market (EU 29).

Strong growth in C-segment: Opel Astra and Grandland sales up by 57%

Opel also continued to grow in the highly competitive C-segment. Astra was able to double its European sales (EU 29) in 2023 with all drive versions. Overall, Opel recorded significant growth worldwide in the C‑segment. Compared to the previous year, the brand sold around 57% more units of Astra and Grandland.

Opel Corsa and Mokka continue to be successful across Europe

Corsa once again proved to be a bestseller last year. In company's two largest markets, Germany and  United Kingdom, it was most popular choice in B-segment. In Greece, Opel Corsa was even the best-selling car overall in country. In addition to leading way in Germany and United Kingdom, the Corsa Electric took second place in registration statistics in its segment in Italy, Netherlands, Portugal and Austria. Mokka Electric was most popular B-SUV in United Kingdom and finished second in Germany, Spain, Poland and Belgium.

Stylish, Versatile, Practical: Original Opel Accessories for Opel Crossland X

• Stylish accessories: High quality appearance, inside and out
• Neat and tidy: FlexOrganizer for more comfort on journeys
• Safely stowed: Carrying luggage, skis and snowboards on the roof
• Clean: Cargo space protection, mud flaps and more
• No worries: Child seats for all age groups

Everything on board: Skiwear fits in the boot of the Opel Crossland X while the snowboard can be safely stowed on the roof rack.

Stylish und functional, the Opel Crossland X combines practicability and spaciousness with the cool looks of an SUV. Tailor-made, high-quality, original Opel accessories make the popular crossover even more comfortable, safer and practical. For the winter vacation, for example, the comprehensive offer includes roof boxes and roof carriers as well as comfort, safety, protection and infotainment equipment. They are complemented by winter tyres and snow chains as well as a variety of design and OPC styling elements.

More style: Turning the Opel Crossland X into an immediate eye-catcher

Opel offers styling accessories that make the Crossland X look even more attractive. These include the inviting door sill panels in aluminium-look with LED-illuminated Opel-logo, as well as the stainless steel OPC Line pedal covers (€99.90*), which give the driver a sporty feeling. The stable aluminium running boards with stainless steel surface (and rubber inserts to prevent slipping) (€547.00*), tailor-made for the Crossland X, enable easier access to the roof rack and roof box. They are also elegant eye-catchers that underline the cool looks of the Crossland X.

Especially in winter, the black Opel mud flaps (€36.50*) protect the Crossland X’s paintwork from mud, salt, grit or snow. They are simple to fit without tools and easy to clean.

Practical, safe, tidy: Versatile equipment for cargo space and interior

Scratches and stains in the cargo area of the Crossland X are history thanks to the protective trim, trays and clever FlexOrganizer. The anti-slip tray (€70.50*) keeps the trunk clean and tidy, while the high, stable edges provide protection from dirt and moisture. Mucky wellingtons or ski boots can be placed on the rubber floor mats (€52.50* for a set of four) – and the passenger compartment stays clean.

Opel also offers numerous FlexConnect items. They are easy to attach and remove from the front head restraints. The fixtures can hold various devices, such as tablets for watching films or books. Alternatively, a FlexConnect hook and hanger can be attached to the base carrier – useful for holding shopping bags or clothing. Additional comfort in the second row is provided by a folding table with integrated cup-holder. The table offers a stable surface and can be folded away to save space when not needed. Inserts for cup-holders and storage for cosmetics, stationery and smaller day-to-day objects round off the range of accessories for keeping the interior neat and tidy.

If pets or large objects are on-board, a stable grille (€186.00*) keeps them in the cargo area in the event of emergency braking. The safety-divider made of coated steel can be installed behind the head restraints in the second row. In addition, the flexible Opel cargo area safety net, which can be fastened to the floor via hooks, ensures that luggage does not slip around.

Cargo area plus: Roof carriers, boxes, etc.

The Opel accessory-range also includes a wide choice of transport and carrier systems for sporty excursions and trips. Opel Crossland X customers can create additional storage space with the aluminium base carrier and wide choice of roof boxes from Opel’s partner, Thule. The Thule carrier system “Xtender 739”, for example, holds up to six pairs of skis and up to four snowboards. Boxes of various sizes – such as the aerodynamically shaped roof box “Excellence” – can also be attached to the base roof carrier. The 2,180 x 940 x 400-millimetre box can be opened from both sides, which makes loading and unloading much easier. The luggage volume of the Opel Crossland X thus grows by up to 470 litres – enough space for the winter vacation luggage of the whole family.

Stress-free family travels: Safe, easy-to-fit child seats

Opel also thinks of the smallest passengers in the Crossland X and offers a variety of child seats and restraint systems for all age groups – all compliant with the newest EU safety regulations including side impact protection. The snug-fitting and easy-to-install child seats with ISOFIX attachment system or standard three-point belt are available at prices from €179.00*.

More information about the practical, safe and stylish accessories for the Crossland X can be obtained online or at any Opel dealer.

* All prices RRP in Germany. Additional installation costs for certain parts.

!NEW! Opel Announces Details on Offensive with Fuel Consumption and Emissions

• Opel to publish WLTP test cycle based fuel consumption numbers, reflecting more everyday driving conditions as of June
• From August onwards, Opel will implement improved SCR diesel applications in new vehicles – improvement towards RDE NOx specifications
• Voluntary customer satisfaction field action for existing diesel cars with SCR technology from June onwards
• Opel will implement SCR technology to entire Diesel Fleet Starting as of 2018

Opel has outlined details of its engineering initiative for more transparency, credibility and efficiency as announced last December. As of this summer, the company will take the voluntarily next step to improve transparency and meet future emission protocols. Starting with the new Opel Astra from June 2016 onwards, and in addition to the official fuel consumption and CO2 information, Opel will publish fuel consumption numbers, reflecting different driving behavior recorded under the WLTP test cycle. In addition, Opel will implement an initiative to improve NOx emissions on SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) diesel applications in new vehicles from August onwards. This is a voluntary and early intermediate step towards the so-called RDE (Real Driving Emissions) legislation that goes into effect in September 2017. Opel is offering to provide the regulatory authorities with the engine calibration strategies, which should serve as the basis for a proactive dialogue.

“We at Opel strongly believe that the industry has to regain trust by increasing the transparency with customers and authorities. Opel takes this step towards RDE to show it can be done”, said Opel CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann. “We announced in December in which direction we are going; now we are delivering the details. I ask the European Union as well as the EU member states and other European countries to accelerate alignment on test set-ups and test interpretations on real-driving-measurements to stop the existing uncertainty caused by test results that are hardly comparable.”

Increase of Transparency on Consumption: Opel steps towards WLTP Test Cycle

From the end of June 2016, and in addition to the official fuel consumption and CO2 information of Opel models, fuel consumption numbers recorded under the WLTP test cycle will be published, starting with the new Opel Astra K.

These figures, which will show a fuel consumption range with a low and a high number, will first be offered for the model year 2016 Astra and published on a dedicated Opel micro-website, creating more transparency. Figures determined under the WLTP test cycle will be published for further models later this year.

According to EU plans, the “New European Driving Cycle” (NEDC) will be replaced starting in 2017 with the more modern standard “Worldwide Harmonized Light Duty Vehicles Test Procedure” (WLTP). The WLTP is important to maintain standardized, reproducible and comparable results.

Less emissions for Euro 6 diesel engines: Opel moves towards RDE

As indicated in December, Opel is also taking action related to NOx emissions to improve Euro 6 diesel SCR engines in the direction of future RDE. RDE is the real driving emissions standard which supplements current test methods and measures a car’s emissions directly on the road.

Dr. Neumann emphasized: "I strongly believe that diesel technology will only continue to play a major role in Europe if the industry sticks to the path of continuous improvement. That is one of the reasons why we decided to implement SCR-Technology to the entire diesel fleet starting as of 2018. With this we do not only talk about a strategy of regaining trust, we also talk about a strategy to preserve the advantage of Europe’s automotive industry in diesel technology.”

The start of the implementation for this Euro 6 SCR improvement in new vehicles is currently scheduled for August 2016. In addition, this activity also includes a voluntary customer satisfaction field action that will involve 57,000 Euro 6 SCR vehicles that are already on the road in Europe (Zafira Tourer, Insignia and Cascada). This activity will start in June 2016 already.

!NEW! Opel Group CEO Calls for Open Discussion Regarding Future CO2 Regulation

Opel and Federal State of Hesse host workshop with top-ranking experts

In Brussels: Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann calls for future CO2 regulations for the automotive industry.

Is current CO2 regulation really a success story? What impact would further continuous tightening of emission limits have on the industry and the economy? What are the future alternatives? Experts, including some from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the European Centre of Economic Research (ZEW), tackled all of these questions at a workshop in Brussels hosted by Opel and the Hessian Ministry for Federal and European Affairs. Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann called for future CO2 regulations for the automotive industry to be scrutinized. For the period after 2020, Dr. Neumann proposed a model based on sensible fleet consumption limits and additional factors such as the integration in the European emissions trading scheme. “The future of CO2 targets beyond 2020 is a key topic for the entire industry. Opel wants to start a broad impartial discussion,” said Dr. Neumann.

Such an approach is backed by scientific results: The prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology presented its current study which looks into the advantages and disadvantages of the current systems of regulation. The scientists approached the topic from an economic point of view. The results show that the current regulation, that only considers emission targets of new cars, has weaknesses. It is neither very effective in regards to the climate effect nor under macroeconomic aspects.

Representatives of the European Centre of Economic Research (ZEW) from Mannheim and Professor Andreas Löschel from Münster University showed possible alternatives. “The emissions trading scheme looks an especially viable possibility. This trade scheme has already been applied to power plants and energy intensive industries – why not use it in the transport and traffic sector,” explained Löschel. John Reilly from the MIT added that including the emissions trade scheme in the CO2 regulation for the traffic sector would save the EU economy 25 to 60 billion euro every year.

Meeting at Brussels: Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann and Jens Gieseke (on right), member of the EU parliament.

The presentations by the scientists were deliberated extensively during a following panel discussion. In addition to the representatives of the MIT and ZEW, high-ranking European officials such as Philip Owen from the Directorate General for Climate of the European Commission and EU parliamentarian Jens Gieseke along with Richard Smokers from the Dutch Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) attended.

Experts in Brussels (from left): Friedrich von Heusinger (representative of Hesse at the EU), Johan Willems (Vice President Communications Opel Group), presenter Holger Kramer, Jens Gieseke (member of the EU parliament), CEO Opel Group Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann, Joachim Koschnicke (Vice President Public Policy Opel Group), John Heywood (professor engineering, MIT), Professor Andreas Löschel (University of Münster), Richard Smokers (Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research / TNO), Philip 

The current CO2 regulation for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles within the European Union concentrates on the average consumption of the new car fleet of each manufacturer in the European Union. Targets of 130 grams per kilometer for this year and 95 grams per kilometer for 2021 have been fixed. Because this regulation only takes the new car fleet into consideration it ignores most of the actual CO2 emissions. The same can be said about the actual performance and way of driving. In addition, the automotive industry is being treated a lot harsher than other industries. “We need a fair playing field for CO2 regulation. The time has come to work on the framework conditions,” said Dr. Neumann.

Opel in one of the technologically leading European automotive companies and sets standards in fuel efficiency. The most economical diesel version of the new Corsa for example reduces CO2 emission to 82 grams per kilometer in the combined cycle which is equivalent to 3.1 liters per 100 kilometers, making the new Corsa the most economical Opel presently on the market and the most economical diesel available.

The company is currently in the middle of the largest product offensive in its history. 17 new economical engines and 27 new models will be brought to market by 2018. Opel is optimistic to be able meet the fixed fleet target by 2021 with its ultra-modern models and engines.

Opel has made considerable progress in emissions reduction in recent years. According to EU statistics, the emissions average of all new cars sold by General Motors in the European Union from 2000 to 2013 dropped by almost one fifth to 132.8 grams of CO2 per kilometer. 

!NEW! Opel Employees Learn Automotive Construction on Game Console

• Project VISTRA: Virtual training for new operational procedures in the production plant
• More flexible and effective due to use of gaming technology
• System being tested and to be introduced in 2015

Child‘s play: In future, employees in production will prepare for new assembly assignments with the help of a Wii controller and a Microsoft Kinect camera.

The Wii game console is by no means just a kids’ toy. Adults enjoy it too. Millions of people around the world use the controller with the integrated motion sensors to play football or do their daily workout in front of the TV. Opel are now bringing the game consoles into the real world. In future, employees in production will prepare for new assembly assignments with the help of a Wii controller and a Microsoft Kinect camera. It is both quick and effective.

Gaming feeling: The operator can select a part by pressing the Wii button and then move it to the designated position. The task is completed once all parts have been placed in the correct positions

For example, which parts do I need to assemble an airbag? What do they look like, where do they go and in which order are they installed? Questions like these are answered during the virtual training. Thereby the assembly tools and the individual parts appear on a big screen. The user stands directly in front of the screen and can move in all directions. The camera follows the user and mirrors the movements on the display. The operator can select a part by pressing the Wii button and then move it to the designated position. The task is completed once all parts have been placed in the correct positions – just like in a computer game.

“We want a system that allows employees to virtually train in a familiar environment,” said Frank Arlt who is leading the VISTRA (Virtual Simulation and Training of Assembly and Service Processes in Digital Factories) research project at Opel. The automotive company initiated the EU-sponsored project three years ago and since then the next generation of virtual training has been researched and developed in Rüsselsheim. The VISTRA system will be put into practice from 2015.

Apart from Opel, six further research and industrial enterprises from Germany, Sweden, England and Denmark are involved in the EU research project. In total, ten Opel employees are working on the project along with 40 experts from external partners.

Virtual training solutions already exist but Arlt points out: “Their big problem is that they basically forget the user. Sitting our employees in front of a computer with a mouse and keyboard is not close enough to reality.”

Virtual training has many advantages. It is quicker, cheaper and more flexible than learning with reproduced hardware prototypes. An initial evaluation of VISTRA revealed that people trained on the virtual system make less mistakes (down 40 percent) than people trained solely on prototypes. The employees feel more secure when dealing with the individual parts and were quicker.

Furthermore, the personalized training ensures that each participant can learn the exact steps of procedure that he/she will utilize during the assembly of a vehicle. In addition, several people can use the system simultaneously and the equipment is light and flexible. It actually fits into a normal briefcase. Last but not least, it is fun.

The VISTRA team is currently looking into how efficient the program exactly is in the actual sequence and how it can be integrated in the existing process. Despite all of the advantages, the new virtual system will not replace working on real prototypes completely. Instead, it will complement the current system.

!NEW! Success Story Continues: Already 30,000 Orders for the New Opel Corsa E

• Order books for new Corsa filling nicely even before the official market launch
• Delivery of the new generation Opel small car to start at end of year 

Bestseller: New Opel Corsa has already been ordered 30,000 times

The new Corsa has not yet officially hit the market but is already a success. Europe-wide, over 30,000 customers have already decided on the new Corsa, despite the Opel dealers only having opened their order books for the fifth generation of the small car in August and the official market launch still being a few weeks away.

Success story continues: Both the three and five-door variants are proving popular with the customers

“The new Corsa has had an excellent start. Even though the customers have not been able to see it at the dealers and test drive it yet we are already receiving numerous orders. That demonstrates that we have a convincing package of design, technology and price,” said Peter Christian Küspert, Vice President Sales & Aftersales Opel Group. “The fifth generation will continue the success story of the Corsa. The car is an important part of our model offensive that will increase our market share considerably during the course of the next few years,” added Küspert.

New Opel Corsa will be at the dealerships in the first countries by the end of the year. The Europe-wide market launch will be completed by January 2015.

The new Corsa celebrated its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show at the beginning of October. The order books were opened in Germany first but now the Corsa can be ordered in almost all major markets.

“The Europe-wide availability of the Corsa should provide another boost. The car is not just popular in Germany but also in important markets such as Great Britain and France,” explained Küspert. The new Corsa will be at the dealerships in the first countries by the end of the year. The Europe-wide market launch will be completed by January 2015.

New Opel Corsa E - Sporty 3 door variant with OPC Line pack 1

The Corsa is one of the most important vehicles in Opel’s portfolio providing around a quarter of the overall sales. Since the launch of the first generation Corsa 32 years ago, over 12.4 million units of the small car have been sold. The predecessor of the new Corsa was sold around 3 million times between 2006 and 2014.

New Opel Corsa E - Interior with Sport seats and OPC Line pack 2

Even it the end of its lifecycle the previous generation proved to be very popular. During the current year, no other Opel vehicle was sold more often in Europe than the Corsa D. In Germany, the small car topped its segment for new registrations in September.

The new Corsa stands for German engineering, emotional design and outstanding value for money. Safety and assistance systems along with new, ultra-modern engines and transmissions are the technological highlights.

The new Corsa is a major player in Opel’s model offensive that will see 27 new cars and 17 new engines brought to market by 2018. Next year, for example, the new KARL will be launched. With the new entry-level Opel, the Corsa E and the stylish ADAM, all introduced in the space of less than two-and-a-half years, Opel will have its strongest small car portfolio ever and one of the youngest on the entire automotive market.

!NEW! Things Continue to Look up: 300,000 Orders for the Opel Mokka SUV

• Bestseller: SUV is becoming a real customer favorite
• Segment leader: most sold car in its segment in Europe in August
• Squeaky clean: available with new, frugal 1.6-liter Euro 6 Turbo Diesel from early 2015

With whisper diesel from 2015: From next year, the Opel Mokka will be available with the new 1.6-liter Turbo Diesel

“Things are really looking up for Opel,” said Borussia Dortmund coach Jürgen Klopp when he drove the Mokka for the first time. Obviously, that is not just true for the company but also for the Mokka. In the two years since being brought to market, the sub-compact SUV has been ordered 300,000 times. Mokka sales even stepped up a gear in recent times. The latest 100,000 orders were recorded in the last seven months. In August, the Opel bestseller even managed to outsell any other car in its segment in Europe. The Mokka is the third most sold car in the Opel rankings behind Corsa and Astra but ahead of Insignia and Zafira.

Currently, the sub-compact SUV segment is the fastest growing in the automobile industry. Compared to last year, registration figures in Europe have almost doubled. Opel Mokka has become a bestseller without regard to national borders. The two-time All-wheel Drive Car of the Year winner leads its segment in Germany with almost 24 percent, in Austria with around 22 percent and in Finland with 27 percent. Throughout Europe, the Mokka achieved a segment share of 15 percent from January to August 2014 and ranks third.

SUV bestseller: Opel Mokka has already been ordered 300,000 times

“The Mokka interprets our definition of an exciting model with ultra-modern technology at affordable prices perfectly,” said Peter Christian Küspert, Vice President Sales & Aftersales Opel Group. “We are delighted with our bestseller amongst the compact SUVs. It is a guarantee for success and an important part of our model offensive. Next, it will be available with the 1.6 CDTI whisper diesel. That will definitely give the Mokka even more momentum.”

Refinement par excellence: New 1.6 CDTI

Opel Mokka SUV does not just impress with its stylish appearance, modern all-wheel drive and generous spaciousness – from early 2015, it will also be available with the 100 kW/136 hp 1.6 CDTI turbo diesel. Already dubbed the ‘whisper diesel’, the extremely compact four-cylinder unit will replace the current 1.7-liter diesel in the Mokka line-up. It gives more power and torque – up six hp and 20 Nm, respectively – from a smaller displacement, as well as significantly lower fuel consumption. The lively 1.6 CDTI is part of a new family of Opel all-aluminum diesel engines. 320 Nm of torque, from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.9 seconds and a top speed of 191 km/h are figures that highlight driving fun. The whisper diesel is also extremely economical and kinder to the environment: with the standard Start/Stop system, the 1.6 CDTI Mokka consumes just 4.1 l/100 km over the combined cycle while emitting only 109 g/km CO2. This is almost 0.5 l/100 km less fuel and 11 g/km less CO2 than the predecessor 1.7-liter version. This new diesel engine complies with the stringent Euro 6 emissions standard. 

Improved running smoothness, more power, better fuel efficiency: With the new 100 kW/136 hp turbo diesel, the Opel Mokka boasts a fuel consumption of only 4.1 liters per 100 kilometers 

!NEW! GM Delivers its Best Third Quarter Global Sales Since 1980

• Chevrolet up 9 percent in North America 
• Cadillac up 63 percent in China
• Buick global sales up 7 percent

General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) sold 2,449,595 vehicles around the world in the third quarter of 2014, up 2 percent compared with a year ago. It was the company’s best third quarter since 1980. In the first nine months of 2014, GM sold 7,371,743 vehicles, up 2 percent.

Third quarter sales in the United States and China, the company’s two largest markets, were up 8 percent and 14 percent, respectively. Year to date, sales in the United States and China were up 4 percent and 12 percent, respectively.

GM is on track to surpass sales of 3 million vehicles in China for the second consecutive year and the company expects to top last year’s record sales of 3.16 million vehicles. During September, GM’s cumulative sales in China surpassed 20 million vehicles.

“GM delivered its best third quarter global sales in 34 years thanks to solid growth in the United States and China, and steady improvement in Opel’s market share,” said GM CEO Mary Barra. “We have launches now underway, including the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon in North America, the Opel/Vauxhall Corsa in Europe, and the Buick Envision and Cadillac ATS-L in China, that will keep our momentum going.”

Highlights (vs. 2013)

• Chevrolet had record sales in China in the third quarter, up 13 percent to 169,830 units. For the first nine months of year, the brand is up 7 percent to a record 505,316 units. September was Chevrolet’s best month ever in China.
• Calendar year to date, Chevrolet sales in South Korea are at record levels.
• The success of the new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra helped GM increase its estimated share of the U.S. retail market for large pickups from 35.8 percent in the first quarter of 2014 to 37.4 percent in the second quarter and 37.9 percent in the third quarter.
• Buick’s global sales were up 7 percent in the third quarter to 284,540 units and they are up 11 percent calendar year to date to 858,046 units, driven by strong growth in the United States and China. Buick’s China sales were up 8 percent in the quarter to 220,578 units and they were up 11 percent to 670,999 units in the first nine months of the year. 
• In China, combined, sales of small SUVs – the Buick Encore, Chevrolet Trax and Captiva – were up 90 percent in the third quarter. In the United States, the Buick Encore has been the best-selling vehicle in its segment for six months in a row. The Chevrolet Trax will launch in the United States in early 2015.
• Cadillac’s global sales were up 4 percent in the third quarter and they are up 9 percent year to date, driven by strong growth in China. Cadillac’s China sales were up 48 percent in the quarter to 18,665 units and they were up 63 percent to 52,425 units in the first nine months of the year.
• Opel/Vauxhall gained market share in 11 European countries in the first nine months of this year, including Germany, where the brand earned 7 percent of the market, up 0.3 points.                                       

General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets.  GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. 

!NEW! Opel presents OnStar emergency services at Berlin eCall conference

• Opel to introduce OnStar Automatic Crash Response ahead of EU eCall deadline
• Car occupants automatically connected with emergency specialist after crash detection
• OnStar responds to nearly 5,000 car crashes across the globe every month

Opel plans to introduce the OnStar connected vehicle service across its passenger car range in selected European countries, beginning in 2015.

Opel is demonstrating its ambition to become a leading player in automotive connectivity by taking an active role in this year’s “eCall Days Germany” (September 16-18), the biggest international conference in Germany on the European emergency call system for automobiles. Participants include political representatives of the European Commission, the automobile industry, component suppliers and other stakeholders.

Opel plans to introduce the OnStar connected vehicle service across its passenger car range in selected European countries, beginning in 2015.

At “eCall Days Germany”, Catherine M. Bishop, manager of global emergency services outreach and strategy at OnStar, and Gerrit Riemer, director of future mobility at Opel, will deliver a presentation on how OnStar assists public safety; in particular, they will inform the conference about OnStar Automatic Crash Response (ACR).

With Automatic Crash Response, OnStar automatically connects the vehicle to a specially trained emergency advisor the moment it detects a crash. If the driver or a passenger requests help, or cannot answer, emergency responders are sent to the vehicle.

OnStar provides additional emergency assistance, as well as ACR. With Emergency Services, if a driver, passenger or even a bystander needs emergency help, they just press the emergency button inside the car. They will get priority connection to a specially trained advisor who can contact fire, police or emergency medical services and guide them to the car.

The “eCall Days” conference at the Representation of Lower Saxony at the Federal Government in Berlin gives an overview of the status of the introduction of eCall in Europe.

OnStar is the leading provider in the global automobile industry of connected safety and security solutions, value-added mobility services and advanced information technology. OnStar already connects around 7.0 million customers in the U.S.A., Canada, China and Mexico.

Advisors monitor the OnStar network 24/7, 365 days a year. On average, OnStar receives two calls every second, or 185,000 every day, and automatically responds to nearly 5,000 car crashes across the globe every month.

In addition to bringing OnStar to Europe, Opel will rollout 4G LTE with which the car becomes a powerful Wi-Fi hotspot for up to seven mobile devices.