[nadepalma]

Anyone know what the breakdown is? Is the BLS the majority of those sales?

I say give them the chance to get the new CTS - and all its variants - up and running in Europe. Also get the BLS/BTS replacement a chance to arrive on the Continent. I also think that once they have diesels running in Europe this will help as well. They dont have any diesels outside of the 1.9L I4 in the BLS and that no doubt hurts them in a market that is over 50% diesel.

We've also read rumors of an "ATS/ALS/ATX" product that could be based on the next Astra/9-1 as well. This would be a Europe-only (and perhaps China only) product and compete with the likes of the next gen Alfa 147, Audi A3, etc. Many have clamoured that GM needs such a product to fully fit into the market and compete with the established players. They may have a valid point and GM should invest in this segment.

If GM gives those two core products (and an "ATS/ALS/ATX" product) a real go, and they still don't catch on, then I say pull out of the market and concentrate on Eastern Europe. Perhaps if they concentrate on Eastern Europe and Russia, and other markets like China and India, it may "spill over" into Western Europe eventually. Or, if GM pulls out of Western Europe, perhaps they could return at a later date with even more impressive products? Who knows.

But til then, I say stay the course. It won't happen over night. GM will NEVER control huge swaths of this market, but at the very least they should aim for a modest toe-hold if they can make the new products convincing enough.