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Opel Sells Well Despite Financial Woes

Leaving financial problems aside and the state of uncertainty surrounding its future, Opel remains an attractive brand for customers across Europe. At least, this is what the latest sales figures suggest, as the German manufacturer increased its market share in Europe to 7.2 percent in July 2009 (July 2008 - 6.45 percent).

Specifically, Opel sold well in each of the first seven months of the year, with Germany remaining the top market for the company. From January to July 2009 market share was 7.03 percent, which makes Opel the third brand when it comes to new vehicle registration across Europe.

France is also one of the markets which brought the strongest growth for “still a GM brand” Opel, with a market share increase in July 2009 of 41.5 percent compared to July 2008. Meriva and Corsa were the two most attractive models for French buyers, Opel said in a release. Spain (vehicle registrations up 0.8 percent last month) and Belgium (market share boosted by 12.4 percent) also brought significant revenues for the German manufacturer.

Opel Insignia remains a best-seller for the carmaker, with Opel now claiming it received 140,000 orders for this particular model across the continent.

Meanwhile, Opel continues negotiations with Magna International and RHJ, the two suitors who are still in the race for the majority stake in the German brand. Opinions are still divided when it comes to the best offer for Opel, with General Motors emphasizing RHJ’s offer is easier to implement and Germany backing Magna’s takeover proposal. However, talks between representatives of the three companies continue, with some voices hinting a final decision is expected to be made in September.
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About the author: Bogdan Popa
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Bogdan keeps an eye on how technology is taking over the car world. His long-term goals are buying an 18-wheeler because he needs more space for his kid’s toys, and convincing Google and Apple that Android Auto and CarPlay deserve at least as much attention as their phones.
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