21.1.2002
Opel is best-selling brand in the Netherlands

Opel has again achieved market leadership in the passenger car market in the Netherlands in 2001. Thus, Opel has been the best-selling brand in the Netherlands for 33 years in a row.

From the 530.287 new passenger cars sold on the Dutch market in 2001, Opel sold in total 68.915 units. This represents a market share of 13 percent. This result has been achieved in a difficult car market that has decreased by 12 percent versus the previous year.

For years, the Opel Astra has been one of the best selling models in the Dutch market. Especially the new Opel Corsa and the Opel Zafira were well received by the customer. With 6.697 units sold and a market share of 1.26 percent Agila exceeded all expectations. Other highlights in 2001 was the launch of the Speedster and the Zafira OPC.

By a number of successful sales campaigns Opel was able to stimulate sales figures through its dealer network at the end of the year. Especially the so-called Opel National Trade-in Weeks where customers could receive an additional trade-in price of 1.361 euro for their current car on top of the used car market values as published by the Automobile Association. Also the so-called Opel Winterservice and the National Opel Test Day, two after sales service initiatives, have added to the success.

Success was also publicly recognized. Firstly, the new Opel Corsa was voted 'Champion Compact Car of the Year 2001' after extensive and severe tests by the biggest consumer magazine in the Netherlands, the ANWB Kampioen. The magazine is issued by the Dutch Automobile Association and has an audience of 3,4 million readers.

Furthermore, the Opel commercial vehicles performed well. In total, 4.312 units were sold which means a market share of 4.25 percent in the commercial vehicle market. This was partly due to the big success of the new Opel Vivaro and the new Opel Combo. Both models were only recently launched in 2001. Like with passenger cars this success was also publicly acknowledged. At great distance from the competition the Opel Vivaro was voted 'International Van of the Year 2002', while the Opel Combo ended second in the same prestigious competition.