Opel to Sell in China Starting this Year

Back in May, Opel's CEO Nick Reilly outlined the mid term strategy of the German manufacturer, describing it as a push to introducing or re-introducing Opel in a series of markets on three continents. One of those markets is China, a country where the brand is expected to begin retailing by the end of the year.

The same Reilly revealed in an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that China will be the first of those global markets Opel will be pushing for to get the German-built vehicles. China will be soon followed by Australia and a couple of yet unnamed South American countries.

The expansion of Opel to markets outside Europe is still a bit surprising. The company's owner, GM, prevented that from happening until now, as Opel would compete against its brother Buick in China and against Holden in Australia.

Somehow, Reilly was apparently vigorous enough to convince the GM's execs that Opel in China and Australia will not be a bad thing. In the CEO's view, Opel and Buick are in two different market segments anyway.

"We wouldn't suddenly sell 200,000 cars in China. Opel's image in China is strong but our product range is too small. Opel is not a direct rival to other GM brands. For German brands with German technology, there's an especially high regard throughout the world," Reilly said back in May.

As for the models to be brought to China, Opel plans on offering the Astra and Insignia. There are no plans to sell hundreds of thousands of vehicles, as Opel will likely remain a low seller for quite some time.