10.4.2003
GME generates sales and share gains

March sales results mark six consecutive months of market share gains with a Q1 2003 sales and share increase despite a weaker European market.

With March sales volume up over 1.6% versus the same month last year and a market share increase to 10.93%, GME marked its sixth consecutive month of year-over-year market share increases for the passenger car and light commercial vehicle market in Western and Central Europe.

The positive March results rounds out a strong quarter for GME, which saw sales volume increase over 1% versus a weaker European market that dropped some 2.4%. In the first quarter of 2003, GM's brands in Western and Central Europe accounted for 10.2% of the market resulting in a share increase of over three tenths of a point for the quarter versus Q1 2002.

"We are clearly on the up, and very encouraged by the sustained improvements we've achieved. Our current focus on enhancing every aspect of the sales chain is clearly paying off, and giving us a lot of confidence as we go further into the year," said Jonathan Browning, GME Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Aftersales.

On a brand level, Opel/Vauxhall registered nearly 419,000 vehicles in Western and Central Europe in the first quarter of 2003, closing in the number three position in the industry, a significant improvement from a number five position at the end of the first quarter in 2002. Overall, ten markets -- led by the two biggest markets in Europe, Germany and the UK -- showed Opel/Vauxhall market share gains in March versus the same month last year.

The positive results can be attributed to a combination of new, focused sales initiatives and the successful implementation of GME's aggressive product offensive, which started with the launch of the Opel/Vauxhall Vectra sedan and Vectra GTS/GSI and the new Saab 9-3 sport sedan in 2002. The entire GME product line-up will be completely renewed within a five-year period with a new model or significant variant being introduced about every six months.

GME expects the sales gains that have been generated to continue to build with launches this year of the Opel/Vauxhall Signum and Meriva in spring, the Speedster Turbo / VX220 Turbo in summer and the Vectra Wagon in the fall, plus four new diesel offerings. In addition, Saab will launch the 9-3 convertible and Daewoo will introduce the Nubira in summer.

"GME has achieved consistent growth in market share over the past half year in Western and Central Europe at a time when market conditions were very difficult," said Mike Burns, GME President. "We see this as a clear sign that we are putting vehicles on the road that hit the mark with customers and we plan to build on that positive trend as we put many more high quality, innovative new vehicles on the road."