@chevrolet @GM #engineering #automotive #manufacturing General Motors, the US car giant, has said that it plans to withdraw its Chevrolet brand from Europe and focus on its Opel and Vauxhall brands. The withdrawal will begin from 2016, meaning that Chevrolet will no longer have a “mainstream presence” in the region. This is “largely thanks to the difficult economic situation”, GM said. However, “iconic vehicles” such as the Corvette will continue to be sold and GM will retain a presence in Russia.
In 2012, Chevrolet sold 195,000 cars and SUVs in western and central Europe, followed by a further 137,000 in the first 10 months of 2013. However, it has been losing money in the region, where a mature and saturated car market — coupled with a fragile economy — has stifled growth.
GM chief executive Dan Akerson said the decision would “allow us to focus our investments where the opportunity for growth is greatest”. This means focusing on Opel and Vauxhall and expanding its Cadillac brand in Europe, he said, adding that “Europe is a key region for GM.”
Most of the Chevrolet models sold in Europe are produced in South Korea, and GM said it would focus on profitability, cost management and maximising sales throughout its Korean operations.