Opel confirms its strategy of electrification of its models and is committed to the internationalization of its sales to continue its development, after a jump of 15% last year, its general director, Florian Huettl, indicated on Tuesday when presenting the new Frontera SUV in Istanbul. .
Sales grow outside Europe
Since its purchase from GM in 2017, the German brand of the French-Italian-American automobile group Stellantis “has chosen electrification, the choice of internationalization,” Florian Huettl explained to AFP.
Last year, Opel sold 670,000 vehicles, of which 90,000 100% electric vehicles. If 85% of the lightning brand’s production is destined for European countries, mainly Germany and the United Kingdom, the group’s sales increased by 62% outside Europe.
“We are strengthening our presence, mainly in Europe and increasingly in what we call the Middle East and Africa region,” said Florian Huettl.
To the point of considering Turkey, where Opel represents 6% of the market share, as its “third national country”, along with Germany and the United Kingdom.
It is therefore no coincidence that the group’s new SUV, the Opel Frontera, produced in Slovakia, was presented with great fanfare in Istanbul.
“Affordable and multi-energy”
“La Frontera is fundamental to our international strategy because it is multi-energy (48 V hybrid engine or fully electric, editor’s note), which allows us to serve both markets with a low electrification index and those with a high electrification index. And it is a very affordable car” (29,000 euros in its electric version), according to Tobias Gubitz, vice president of Prices and Products at Opel.
In a country like Turkey, where government taxes significantly increase the cost of new vehicles, this can provide a solution for a household looking for “German quality” and, in European markets, allow buyers to access an electric car, considered.
Au-delà de la Turquie, Opel table notamment sur le Maroc, où la marque occupe également une solide position, ainsi que sur l’Algérie où elle a remis les pieds l’an passé et pourquoi pas prochainement l’Egypte, espère-t -He.
But the brand also targets more distant markets, such as Chile, Taiwan and New Zealand.
With the Frontera, “all Opels are now available in an electric version if desired,” said Florian Huettl. In addition, with its multi-energy strategy and its cars manufactured on the same production lines, the brand has flexibility to “respond in the coming years to different speeds of electrification” in different markets, he believes.
Source: BFM TV
