GM's Opel Says January Auto Sales Surged In Germany

FRANKFURT February 10, 2003; Dow Jones reported that General Motors Corp.'s German arm, Adam Opel AG , Monday said auto sales surged last month in its home market, with the new Vectra paving the way for Opel's recovery.

Opel's sales in Germany jumped 25% on the year to 28,620 vehicles, according to preliminary figures from dealers, said Opel spokesman Ruediger Assion. He confirmed a report in Financial Times Deutschland.

That brings Opel's market share up to 12% compared with 9.4% in January 2001, even as the overall market skidded 1.4%, based on preliminary data.

According to FTD, Opel is near to snatching back its position as the Germany's number-two carmaker, lost to DaimlerChrysler AG's Mercedes-Benz shortly before new Opel Chairman Carl-Peter Forster arrived in 2001.

In the combined western and central European markets, Opel's sales rose just 0.8%, but the market slid about 6%, Assion said. Opel's market share in the region climbed to 9.35% from 8.75% a year ago.

The surging car sales may put Opel in a better position to break even, as planned, by the fourth quarter of 2003. In an interview last month, Forster said he wouldn't rule out achieving that even sooner, due to a better market position and restructuring.

"The Vectra is doing even a little better than expected," Assion said of the mid-sized car launched last spring.

Incentives have also helped sales of all Opel's model lines, Assion said. Besides cheap financing, Opel is offering to pay the tax on 1,500 liters of fuel. That generally amounts to just over EUR700, he said.

Germany's Department of Motor Vehicles is to unveil final January registration data for all manufacturers in Germany Feb. 17.