Chevrolet Bucks Trend in Western Europe

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – July 8, 2009: With sales up in Western Europe and down in line with reduced markets in Central and Eastern Europe, Chevrolet held its position with a stable share of 2.2 percent of the total European market in the first six months of 2009. Total sales reached 214,520 versus 269,319 in the January to June period a year earlier.

Chevrolet sold 85,800 cars in Western Europe in the first six months of 2009, 1.6 percent more than in the same period last year. “In these tough economic times, customers want good-looking, well-equipped cars at exceptionally fair prices,” said Wayne Brannon, head of Chevrolet’s European operations. “Value for money has become more important than ever and, with the Matiz, Aveo and Cruze, the Chevy line-up is exactly right for European customers’ needs.”

Chevrolet showed particularly strong sales growth in France and Germany in the first half of the year, with registrations up over 4000 units in each country, increases of 95 and 35 percent respectively. In Italy, Chevrolet’s largest market in Western Europe, sales were up over 2,000 units or 8.3 percent in the January to June period. Chevrolet also took a significantly larger share of the shrinking Spanish and UK markets, moving up 0.8 and 0.3 percentage points respectively.

In Russia, where the market was halved versus the first six months of last year, Chevrolet held its position as the number one non-domestic brand with a stable market share of 8 percent.