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Opel Q1 Sales Rise 8 Percent in Europe

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Opel Astra

Opel Astra

Opel’s first-quarter vehicle sales reached an approximate total of 303,000 vehicles this year, marking an 8% increase from Q1 2015 and marking the brand’s best first quarter sales in five years. Charitably, Opel’s Vice President of Sales and Aftersales, Peter Christian Küspert, called sales eclipsing 300,000 units in the first quarter of a year for the first time since 2011 as “a good start,” while also making sure to focus on room for growth in Q2 and beyond thanks to new models.


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“A good start to the year. The customers across Europe really like our young and attractive model range with the Astra and the Astra Sports Tourer as the current highlights. The Mokka X will add further impetus later this year. We are well on track to increasing our sales considerably in 2016.”

Opel Astra Sports Tourer

Opel Astra Sports Tourer

The Astra Sports Tourer is set to arrive at German dealerships this Saturday, likely helping further bolster Opel’s Q2 and first half sales.

Opel’s sales growth compares favorably to that of the European automotive industry as a whole in the first quarter. Because the European market was up 5%, Opel was able to attain a five-year best for sales volume and improve its market share to its best Q1 mark since 2011. Through March, Opel’s share in Europe was up 0.2 percentage points to 6%.

Market share was up in 15 of Opel’s European markets during the first quarter, and sales volume was up in 17 markets. Opel cites Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands as three markets in which it saw impressive advancement. By gaining 11% in the first quarter, Opel is now the fastest-growing brand among Belgians, and the popularity of the Astra—named the European Car of the Year 2016 at the Geneva Motors Show—helped to make Opel Spain’s top passenger car brand. Opel’s share in the Netherlands rose by nearly a full quarter point to 7.4%.

A good start, indeed.


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