GM to Discontinue Chevrolet in Europe to Refocus on Opel
12-05-2013, 09:40 AM
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GM to Discontinue Chevrolet in Europe to Refocus on Opel GM Strengthens its European Brand Strategy
2013-12-05
Beginning in 2016, GM will compete in Europe's volume markets under its respected Opel and Vauxhall brands. The company's Chevrolet brand will no longer have a mainstream presence in Western and Eastern Europe, largely due to a challenging business model and the difficult economic situation in Europe.
Chevrolet, the fourth-largest global automotive brand, will instead tailor its presence to offering select iconic vehicles – such as the Corvette – in Western and Eastern Europe, and will continue to have a broad presence in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
This will improve the Opel and Vauxhall brands and reduce the market complexity associated with having Opel and Chevrolet in Western and Eastern Europe. In Russia and the CIS, the brands are clearly defined and distinguished and, as a result, are more competitive within their respective segments.
Cadillac, which is finalizing plans for expanding in the European market, will enhance and expand its distribution network over the next three years as it prepares for numerous product introductions.
"Europe is a key region for GM that will benefit from a stronger Opel and Vauxhall and further emphasis on Cadillac," said GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson. "For Chevrolet, it will allow us to focus our investments where the opportunity for growth is greatest."
"This is a win for all four brands. It's especially positive for car buyers throughout Europe, who will be able to purchase vehicles from well-defined, vibrant GM brands," Akerson said.
Chevrolet will work closely with its dealer network in Western and Eastern Europe to define future steps while ensuring it can honor obligations to existing customers in the coming years.
"Our customers can rest assured that we will continue to provide warranty, parts and services for their Chevrolet vehicles, and for vehicles purchased between now and the end of 2015," said Thomas Sedran, president and managing director of Chevrolet Europe. "We want to thank our customers and dealers for their loyalty to the Chevrolet brand here in Europe."
The majority of the Chevrolet portfolio sold in Western and Eastern Europe is produced in South Korea. As a result, GM will increase its focus on driving profitability, managing costs and maximizing sales opportunities in its Korean operations as the company looks for new ways to improve business results in the fast-changing and highly competitive global business environment.
"We will continue to become more competitive in Korea," said GM Korea President and CEO Sergio Rocha. "In doing so, we will position ourselves for long-term competitiveness and sustainability in the best interests of our employees, customers and stakeholders, while remaining a significant contributor to GM's global business."
With the decision that Chevrolet will no longer have a mainstream presence in Western and Eastern Europe, GM expects to record net special charges of $700 million to $1 billion primarily in the fourth quarter of 2013 and continuing through the first half of 2014. The special charges include asset impairments, dealer restructuring, sales incentives and severance-related costs, and will pave the way for continued improvement in GM's European operations through the further strengthening of the Opel and Vauxhall brands. Approximately $300 million of the net special charges will be non-cash expenses. In addition, GM expects to incur restructuring costs related to these actions that will not be treated as special charges, but will impact GM International Operations earnings in 2014.
About General Motors Co.
General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.
2013-12-05
- Opel and Vauxhall to compete as GM's mainstream brands across Europe
- Chevrolet to focus on iconic products in Europe
- Cadillac to expand in Europe
Beginning in 2016, GM will compete in Europe's volume markets under its respected Opel and Vauxhall brands. The company's Chevrolet brand will no longer have a mainstream presence in Western and Eastern Europe, largely due to a challenging business model and the difficult economic situation in Europe.
Chevrolet, the fourth-largest global automotive brand, will instead tailor its presence to offering select iconic vehicles – such as the Corvette – in Western and Eastern Europe, and will continue to have a broad presence in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
This will improve the Opel and Vauxhall brands and reduce the market complexity associated with having Opel and Chevrolet in Western and Eastern Europe. In Russia and the CIS, the brands are clearly defined and distinguished and, as a result, are more competitive within their respective segments.
Cadillac, which is finalizing plans for expanding in the European market, will enhance and expand its distribution network over the next three years as it prepares for numerous product introductions.
"Europe is a key region for GM that will benefit from a stronger Opel and Vauxhall and further emphasis on Cadillac," said GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson. "For Chevrolet, it will allow us to focus our investments where the opportunity for growth is greatest."
"This is a win for all four brands. It's especially positive for car buyers throughout Europe, who will be able to purchase vehicles from well-defined, vibrant GM brands," Akerson said.
Chevrolet will work closely with its dealer network in Western and Eastern Europe to define future steps while ensuring it can honor obligations to existing customers in the coming years.
"Our customers can rest assured that we will continue to provide warranty, parts and services for their Chevrolet vehicles, and for vehicles purchased between now and the end of 2015," said Thomas Sedran, president and managing director of Chevrolet Europe. "We want to thank our customers and dealers for their loyalty to the Chevrolet brand here in Europe."
The majority of the Chevrolet portfolio sold in Western and Eastern Europe is produced in South Korea. As a result, GM will increase its focus on driving profitability, managing costs and maximizing sales opportunities in its Korean operations as the company looks for new ways to improve business results in the fast-changing and highly competitive global business environment.
"We will continue to become more competitive in Korea," said GM Korea President and CEO Sergio Rocha. "In doing so, we will position ourselves for long-term competitiveness and sustainability in the best interests of our employees, customers and stakeholders, while remaining a significant contributor to GM's global business."
With the decision that Chevrolet will no longer have a mainstream presence in Western and Eastern Europe, GM expects to record net special charges of $700 million to $1 billion primarily in the fourth quarter of 2013 and continuing through the first half of 2014. The special charges include asset impairments, dealer restructuring, sales incentives and severance-related costs, and will pave the way for continued improvement in GM's European operations through the further strengthening of the Opel and Vauxhall brands. Approximately $300 million of the net special charges will be non-cash expenses. In addition, GM expects to incur restructuring costs related to these actions that will not be treated as special charges, but will impact GM International Operations earnings in 2014.
About General Motors Co.
General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.
12-05-2013, 10:31 AM
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I'm glad to see Chevy's name back where it belongs and no longer on Korean shitboxes. But this doesn't entirely seem like a commercially intelligent move to me. Will they drop Opel's positioning? That'd be a mistake considering the vast amount of improvement the brand has experienced. There are people cross shopping Passats and Insignias, something nearly unheard of ten years ago. Cadillac's role in European markets is too meagre to make it a full-fledged luxury brand, unless they start selling every single model with 1-3 diesel options.
12-07-2013, 12:44 AM
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Opel is (and pretty much always has been) a full range automaker. GM forcing Chevrolet into Europe created huge overlap with Opel, cannibalization of Opel and these issues were further exacerbated by the European economic crisis.
Opel has been established in Europe for longer than GM has existed and is firmly entrenched, GM was just strangling themselves by selling Daewoos there as Chevrolets in Opel dearlership and undermining Opel products.
Opel (like Daewoo) is also a vital global engineering hub for GM, so hurting Opel was hurting GM in other ways as well. Epislon I and II, Hi-Per strut, small engines, GM's black tie BUS system, etc are all Opel products GM uses here at home and worldwide. This is the best decision for both Opel and GM and I'm glad they made it when they did before letting it go on years longer.
Opel has been established in Europe for longer than GM has existed and is firmly entrenched, GM was just strangling themselves by selling Daewoos there as Chevrolets in Opel dearlership and undermining Opel products.
Opel (like Daewoo) is also a vital global engineering hub for GM, so hurting Opel was hurting GM in other ways as well. Epislon I and II, Hi-Per strut, small engines, GM's black tie BUS system, etc are all Opel products GM uses here at home and worldwide. This is the best decision for both Opel and GM and I'm glad they made it when they did before letting it go on years longer.