GM Inside News Forum banner

GM March sales up +7.2% in Europe

4K views 32 replies 10 participants last post by  jpd80 
#1 · (Edited)
EU March Car Sales Top 10 Companies.
1. VW Group 335,648 +8.6
2. PSA Peugeot/Citroen 150,444 +10.5%
3. Renault 130,539+30.4%
4. Ford 123,554 (Ford UK 63,149 sales powering the Blue Oval in the EU) +14.6%
5. General Motors 118,880 +7.2%
Opel (26 EU countries, RHD Malta not included)/ 62,807 Vauxhall UK 50,068 +15.3%
Chevrolet 5,996
Cadillac (US Imports) 8
6. BMW Group 91,496 +5.7%
7. Fiat 83,198 +4.6%
8. Mercedes 74,793 +5.6%
9. Nissan 64,558 +15.2%
10. Toyota 61,073 +5.7%

Best Brand the biggest gains.
1. Dacia 35,625 +53%
2. Lexus 3,541+37.9%
3. Jeep 2,706 +31.9%

Worst performing Brands
1. Cadillac (US imports) 8 -60%
2. Chevrolet 5,996 -53.7%
3. Mini 15,451 -14%

Good month for GM powered by British Vauxhall car sales, FT said GM still are struggling with just 40% of sales going to the lucrative private buyers in the EU, Opel Adam is a step in the right direction GM needs less dull cars and more cars that are big on personalty, character big on mojo , most European private buyer have dropped out of the new car buying process and seem more happy to buy that 18 month old ex Hertz heavily depreciated Focus or Avis Astra rather than buy a new car. Chevy are departing so sales of its Korean made cars would be falling, Caddy sales will remain non existent until that decent fuel efficient diesel arrives that are promising now will arrive in a couple of years time.

Mark Fields was boasting about Fords sales let recovery in Europe, but FT said it has been done with heavy discounting of up to 20% on models like the Ford Focus to shift them out of the showroom, Skoda sales are also up by +20% FT said they to have been discounting with 30% discounts as well, FT said this heavy discounting is not good for the industry and not sustainable long term. With a lot of over supply in the EU market Peugeot are hacking back its models from 45 to l think it was 25 to help cut it's massive 9 billion losses in the EU it made in the last two years. Excellent value for money bare bone Dacia seem to be doing very well off the back of EU austerity.

LINK
 
See less See more
#5 ·
Is there one single dealer in this group that has a stand-alone Cadillac showroom? No. That are multi-brand car dealerships selling everything from Lancia, Skoda, Fiat to Opel. Cadillac has in most cases a dusty corner there. And without any promotion customers aren't even going to search a car in such venue. Especially those looking for a premium brand.
 
#6 · (Edited)
Caddy's 1 UK dealer Bauer-Millett is based in a Manchester run down slum not some where well heeled Brits hang out, more a hang out under railway arches for meths drinkers, Mopar share the site for imports into the UK. First choice should be West London or North West Surrey is where Caddy would have an instant maximum impact in the UK and Europe. Ireland, Cyprus & Malta badged as Opels are also are RHD in the EU but sales counted as Opel sales.

Not having RHD option for the UK market, not having Caddy dealers located in the right locations, or a decent fuel efficient diesel that runs efficiently on $9 EU gas prices, is an instant epic failure nothing will ever change until it gets fixed put right. It's not rocket science Caddy needs in Europe, just the basics done right.

What chance would Caddy in the USA have if they had just 1 dealer located in a rundown ghetto drug den in Detriot selling RHD cars only to LHD buying Americans who have to run a Caddy on $9 gas? Thats how Caddy are running their business in the UK at the moment.


GM Authority
Managing Director of Cadillac Europe, Thomas Sedran, said the plan is now in the early stages of its execution, with an important step having coming and gone today at the Geneva Motor Show with the European debut of the 2015 Escalade and ATS Coupe.

“You need to have competitive diesels and you need a strategy to use these engines across different product portfolios,” Sedran told Autocar in Geneva. “At this point, I can’t promise a date for diesels (Stated 2 years on Automotive News), but it is coming. In the short-term we will stick with our gasoline models.”

Currently, Cadillacs are imported into the UK through the nation’s only certified Cadillac dealer, Bauer-Millett. According to Autocar, not a single UK resident purchased a new Cadillac last year, something the automaker is looking to change in coming years.

“There is no final decision on right-hand drive, but I hope it will be positive,” said Sedran. “To be a global company, you have to be in the UK. But I know to be there you have to be right-hand drive.”

Sedran said Cadillac has been left as “a bit of an orphan child” in Europe, with most of GM’s attention focused on growing Opel and Chevrolet. But with plans in place to pull Chevrolet out of Europe by 2016, GM can focus more of its efforts on a “growth plan” for Cadillac.

The first stage of the plan, Sedran said, is to better support the 41 Cadillac dealers across Europe through a better website, a new marketing campaign and improved brochures. He believes even simple steps like an improved website will help carry things along until the diesel models arrive.


Read more: LINK

No decent diesels around for Caddy for 2 years Mmmmm?

Opel/Vauxhall Insignia 2.0 CDTi 120
In town 61.4 MPG
On the highway 85.6 MPG
Average 76.3 MPG
LINK
 
#7 ·
Forget Cadillac going after the I4 economy sales in Europe, at least for now - concentrate on Cadillac's alleged strengths of performance and luxury. They've got LHD high power gasoline versions, so sell those against the Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz LHD high power gasoline versions - remember that the three Euro premium manufacturers moved into RHD and are now downsizing into economy cars having already established their quality reputation at the gas-guzzling end of the spectrum, Cadillac has yet to establish any reputation in Europe.

GM needs major investment in new diesels - Opel/Vauxhall is still having to rely on designs evolved originally from Fiat - there's no V6 diesels available and no premium diesels available - given that diesel is slowly gaining momentum in the US and widespread elsewhere in the world, this lack of diesel engines is a huge hole in GM's strategy. It should be embarrassing to GM that they can't develop their own up-to-date range of diesels when upstart Hyundai has already done so !!
 
#18 ·
It's an accounting labyrinth that makes it impossible to know whether Opel is profitable or not - Opel takes money from Detroit to develop FWD platforms, powertrains and models - those platforms, powertrains and models are made available to other brands within GM for which Opel receives no income, indeed Detroit then charges Opel for using it's own models.

International corporates make different charges in different countries to optimise their total tax bill AND repatriate profits back to the head office. GM is no different from any other international corporate in this respect but the published figures do NOT show accurately whether/which GM subsidiaries are making profits and which aren't.

GM Detroit blows hot and cold over retaining Opel/Vauxhall - threatening every 5 years or so to sell it but then realising it needs their FWD product.

When you see how differently JLR and Volvo are managed by their overseas owners compared to Saab, Opel/Vauxhall and Holden, it's plain to see just how badly GM Detroit manages it's subsidiaries.

If the sentiment of GMI on Opel/Vauxhall, or more accurately the lack of it, is mirrored at GM Detroit then now really is the time to sell Opel/Vauxhall on to the Chinese and use the money to promote Buick/Cadillac in Europe - I just hope my pension fund doesn't have money invested in GM!
 
#20 ·
Through UK eyes, Chevrolets came in two very different forms:-

A handful of Vauxhall dealers have "always" offered for sale Corvette, Camaro and a big SUV, in LHD and sales were slow, only minor celebrities and real petrolheads would buy them - sales wouldn't have been much higher with RHD because those cars just aren't that attractive to ordinary Brits. Vauxhall imported Holden HSVs in RHD with a V8 and sales were low because those cars just aren't that attractive to ordinary Brits. The problem with Chevrolet Corvette, Camaro and big SUVs isn't the lack of RHD, it's their gas-guzzling engines which makes them totally impractical for ordinary owners in high fuel cost countries and wealthy owners want cars with more class.

Daewoo had a small but loyal customer base in the UK, content in using an obsolete GM platform and powertrain at a bargain price - neither the price nor the cars gave the other Koreans any competition - then GM decides to switch the badges to Chevrolet and gradually update the range to use Korean-built models using current GM platforms but ancient VM Motori diesels - their key mistake was increasing list prices to Opel/Vauxhall levels but selling an inferior product, no wonder sales never climbed very high.

UK sales volume is predominantly Fiesta/Corsa and Focus/Astra/Golf, the top 5 models - the Mini/Supermini classes amount to 40% of total sales and the lower medium another 25%, together around 2/3 of the total - they aren't the most profitable sectors but those are the sort of cars that Brits buy and should be the market sectors for GM to concentrate on.
 
#21 · (Edited)
No one buys LHD cars of any make period in the UK close to zero sale is all they would ever get, lies about few LHD dealers they might have been importers but they only had the Manchester based dealership, Chevy Volts were only LHD car that was sold at a few Chevy dealers the rest was just pure lies on your behalf Rupert.

FWD Korean made fault ridden Chevy are total crap bottom of JD Power as voted by their owners every year without fail was the only one thing that had reliably. Yes American imported cars need to be more fuel efficient, nobody has been arguing this more for this on GM Insiders news Rupert, put a LHD v8 5.0 in a Hertz Corsa and see how many they shift in Europe, yes l know its not rocket science to you and me.

Fiesta/Corsa and Focus/Astra/Golf rental cars sold in big batches at huge losses Mr Hertz and Mr Avis are two great American customers that reside in the UK, probably all requiring $18 billion bail-outs at Opel not so much at loss make Ford of Europe, VW are proper up with RWD/AWD Porsche profits in Europe, GM & Ford send in billions in boatloads of cash supplied from profits made RWD AWD Pick-up trucks in North America.

FT reported the abysmal number of lucrative private car sales Opel has made in Europe, just 40% they said you can't run a stable business with just 40% private buyer sales, the Focus is just as bad they said Ford was offering huge 20% discounts to shift the cars in Europe they said this is not sustainable way to run a business, the lions share of Focuses are sold in huge batches at a big loss to the likes of Hertz etc.

So far FWD Opel have lost $18 billions in losses in Europe, l was very surprised that Mary Barra was found to be so gullible sent the Opel Money Pit another $5.2 billion boatload of cash over from the USA making it $23.2 billion dollars in total to get hapless useless Opel by for a few more years keep them Opel nits out of her hair. When will this relentless boatload of RWD/AWD profits made in the USA on pick-ups shipped to the FWD Opel huge loss making money pit going to end Rupert, its never ending even Barra is sending Opel boatloads of cash now?

GM of Europe need to turn in big profits Rupert get back to me when they do, you can't keep shift out boatloads USA profits few years to the Opel money pit, thats all that interests me!!
 
#23 ·
EU March Car Sales Top 10 Companies.
1. VW Group 335,648 +8.6
2. PSA Peugeot/Citroen 150,444 +10.5%
3. Renault 130,539+30.4%
4. Ford 123,554 (Ford UK 63,149 sales powering the Blue Oval in the EU) +14.6%
5. General Motors 118,880 +7.2%
Opel (26 EU countries, RHD Malta not included)/ 62,807 Vauxhall UK 50,068 +15.3%
Chevrolet 5,996
Cadillac (US Imports) 8
6. BMW Group 91,496 +5.7%
7. Fiat 83,198 +4.6%
8. Mercedes 74,793 +5.6%
9. Nissan 64,558 +15.2%
10. Toyota 61,073 +5.7%

Best Brand the biggest gains.
1. Dacia 35,625 +53%
2. Lexus 3,541+37.9%
3. Jeep 2,706 +31.9%

Worst performing Brands
1. Cadillac (US imports) 8 -60%
2. Chevrolet 5,996 -53.7%
3. Mini 15,451 -14%
Good news for GM and Opel/Vauxhall in particular.

GM seems to have finally figured out that allowing Opel/Vauxhall more control of their markets is working and Opel/Vauxhall will be GM's mainstream brand in Europe.

Not that GM has much of a choice since Opel/Vauxhall are far too entrenched in Europe and GM just does not have another brand that can replace O/V in a short enough time to be a viable strategy. Ford could easily lose Jaguar/Volvo since neither were "Critical" to Ford's European presence and Ford had a strong enough foothold in Europe to continue without them. Ford could also allow a buyer to use "Fords" tech/parts on Jaguar/Volvo with little to no restriction since it would not be a direct threat to Ford's volume sales in Europe.

GM has get past the fact the European profits from Europe are going to be "Opel/Vauxhall" dollars not "Chevy" dollars and at the end of the day who cares what name is attached to the dollars? If GM can get more "Opel/Vauxhall" dollars than "Chevy" dollars from Europe and at a much larger profit that is all that matters from a "Business" prospective. Professional Managers do not allow personal preferences or even their own ego stand in the way of a superior business decision since they know their ego will be more than compensated with recognition of implementing the right strategy. Not the mention their pockets will have multiple times the cash in them to "Smooth over" any hurt feelings.

GM has a variety of short term and long term issues to deal with in Europe and they must be addressed with both a short and long term strategies.

First, GM must continue it's latest strategy with Opel/Vauxhall adding more products that better "fit" the European market, the Adam and Mokka are good starts and Opel/Vauxhall needs the next Corsa/Astra/Insigina to be better competitors and it appears Opel/Vauxhall can develop the product. Opel/Vauxhall will need a much more competitive Antara if it is to grow in Europe as this appears to be a "growth segment" in Europe.

GM also needs to acknowledge Jeep's rise in Europe and counter with GMC offering products that will sell in Opel/Vauxhall dealers like the Terrain and Canyon and add new products to counter the Renegade. This is more of a niche market, but one Opel/Vauxhall dealers can take advantage of without worry that Opel/Vauxhall is going to be replaced by GMC.

Cadillac's short term strategy is product "limited" and first order of business is to address Cadillac's lack of "quality" outlets and focus on selling the LHD product they have based on "unique styling with performance" (ATS/CTS) and/or V8 power (CTS-V, Escalade) since that is all they have to offer.

Long term Cadillac must offer RHD along with Diesel engines to even think they are ever going to be relevant in the UK, rest of Europe and other lucrative RHD markets. But first GM must builds up the distribution system so it is imperative it gets the short term strategy working.

Long term Opel/Vauxhall will need some other upscale products and is where it can help Cadillac's long term strategy as well as Buick and Opel/Vauxhall's long term global strategy by creating some RHD performance RWD products along with some new FWD/AWD cars and Crossovers.

These strategies will take time and force some major change in thinking for GM, but the sooner it realizes that profitably improving global sales/market share requires a "segment focus" strategy that is not based on any brand.
 
#24 · (Edited)
Thanks a very good comprehensive post, at the end of the day the Opel money pit has got to start delivering a profit for General Motors they will never deliverer this with just 40% of sales going to the to the lucrative private buyer, choice of drive trains are totally non existent at Opel.

Folk in the UK will never touch a second-rate car premium priced with a steering wheel fitted on the LH side ever, you would have thought if you are going to pay a top dollar price for a Cadillac they would at least have the decency to fit the steering wheel on the correct side of the car for you. The UK would without any doubt be Cadillac biggest single market in Europe just look at the superb Vauxhall sales v Opels abysmal sales on mainland Europe.

Just watch Ford of Europes sales start to take off big time in Europe next year, if you want a RHD Mustang with different engine options Ford delivers, or if you want a RHD small light duty pick-up Ford has the Ford Ranger now not some fictional time in the future that won't ever happen at GM in Europe, all Opel have are experts at is fiddling $18 billion dollars out of GM, and delivery a very shallow choice of drivetrains with steering wheels fitted to the wrong side of cars.

All l want to see is Opel delivery a tidy profit back to GM, that will make me happy. Just watch the Ford of Europe profits soar a year after the RHD Mustang arrives in Europe, as Opels asks for another boatload of cash to be shipped over to Europe.

I find GM in Europe very frustrating to watch how they operate, the good stuff with high profit yields is always put off will be arriving sometime in the distant future & never arrives, they will fit the steering to the correct side of a premium price some time in the future when they can get round to it, the same ole repetitive story just give the FWD Opel money pitt another $2 billions and we will be profitable that you have heard said 10 times before then in 2years they want more money, sorry but its its just very very frustrating watch.

Come on Opel the only numbers l am interest in is the profits you send back to USA, and not the numbers from your dull shaped FWD Hertz specials that just about as good as Opel car design skills gets..
 
#31 ·
GM is in 5th place but at least buyers seem to be warming up to Opel/Vauxhall. GM should have grown with Chevrolet and Cadillac but they didn't.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top