General Motors (GM) Europe sold a record 1,652,082 vehicles, up 123,725 units or 8.1% year on year in the first nine months of 2007.
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The resulting market share of 9.5% grew 0.3 points and was the highest market share for the group since 1999.
In September, GM Europe sold a record 205,497 cars and LCVs, up 20,950 vehicles or 11.4%. The Opel/Vauxhall Astra was Europe’s best-selling car in September.
“Records for September, the third quarter and the calendar year to date demonstrate GM Europe’s sustained sales momentum. Our sales grew by 14.6% and led to an all-time sales record for the third quarter of 523,590 vehicles. Our market share for September was 10.1%. GM’s European growth this year is fuelled by increases in both the Chevrolet and Opel/Vauxhall brands,” said Jonathan Browning, GME’s vice president for sales, marketing and aftersales.
GM Russia sales in the first nine months almost doubled from last year (+98%), with Chevrolet contributing 61% and Opel 37%. GM’s market share in Russia grew by 3.2 points, to 9.34%. The UK, Italy and Greece were the main contributors to GM’s growth in western Europe.
The Astra was Europe’s best-selling car in September, with 49,268 cars registered. Together with the new Corsa, that sold 347,800 this year, an increase of 52%, and segment-leaders Meriva and Zafira, Opel/Vauxhall’s best sellers led to a strong sales increase of 12% for the brand in the third quarter and 4% for the first nine months of the year.
Opel almost tripled its sales in Russia (+281%) in the third quarter.
Vauxhall sold 306,078 cars and LCVs in the first three quarters this year, an increase of 8.8%, leading to a market share of 13.7%.
With 112,800 cars sold in the third quarter of this year, constituting a growth of 28%, Chevrolet – mostly GM Daewoo-sourced – reached a record market share of 2.05%, an improvement of 0.3 points.
“Chevrolet’s August and September market share for total Europe of above 2% and cumulative sales of 328,300 cars confirm Chevrolet as a major player and the fastest growing volume brand in Europe,” Browning said.
Cadillac sales of 3,390 for the calendar year to date in Europe grew by 30.7%, with strong growth in Russia, Austria, Denmark, Spain and Italy.
Hummer sales increased 11.5% to 1,520 vehicles with the H3 now sourced from South Africa.
