Win some, lose some. A day after it was reported that GM’s US Saturn division would import General Motors Europe’s Astra to replace the slow-selling Ion, came the news that the Opel brand is being yanked from Japan.
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According to The Associated Press (AP), GM’s Japanese units said Opel sales have been lanquishing at a mere 1,800 vehicles last year, down from a peak of over 30,000 in 1996 so sales will end before the end of 2006 as stock runs out.
Opel sales will target Europe, and GM will instead sell global brands like Cadillac, Saab and Chevrolet in Japan, a spokeswoman told the news agency.
AP noted that Opel has not attracted Japanese buyers, who favour Germany’s Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen and BMW.
