The continuous complications of the European market and an Opel in difficulties, led GM to decide to withdraw Chevrolet from the European market, more specifically, from the European Union, at the end of 2015.
The news drops like a bomb! In the years of discussions about what to do with Opel, the result has been the sacrifice of Chevrolet in the European market, focusing all attention on the German brand as Stephen Girsky, vice president of General Motors, says: “We have growing confidence in the brands Opel and Vauxhall in Europe. We are focusing our resources on the continent.”
Chevrolet has a 1% share of the European market, and the last few years have not been easy for this brand either, commercially and financially. Chevrolet's current range runs through Spark, Aveo and Cruze, with Trax, Captiva and Volt having parallels in Opel's Mokka, Antara and Ampera models.
Exiting the European market will also allow Chevrolet to focus on more profitable markets with greater growth potential, such as Russia and South Korea (where most of its models are produced), by more effectively allocating its production. models where this is required.
For those who own Chevrolet models, GM guarantees maintenance services without a defined deadline and supply of parts for another 10 years from the date of exit from the market, therefore, there is no reason for alarm or distrust of the future owners. There will also be a transition process for Opel and Vauxhall dealers to assume the responsibilities of Chevrolet after-sales services, so that no customer feels any difference in the maintenance and service of their car.
Whether Chevrolet's departure will give Opel and Vauxhall the necessary space to grow and increase their profitability, only time will tell, as there is no shortage of competitors ready to absorb this 1% share of the American brand.
Even so, GM guarantees the market presence of specific models such as the Chevrolet Camaro or Corvette, and how it will do so has yet to be defined.