GM Grows Sales and Market Share in Europe through First Half of 2005

Chevrolet, Saab, Cadillac, Corvette and Hummer Divisions are Performing Well in Europe

When times are tough there are only a handful of things that you can do to reduce the red ink and hopefully get your

In an effort to get back into the black, General Motors is changing its tactics in the European market. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

company back into the black. General Motors knows this only too well, and in strategizing its revitalization is taking an entirely new approach to selling cars in Europe.

For years, the only GM brands sold on the eastern side of the Atlantic were Opel in Continental Europe and Vauxhall in the United Kingdom, and overall these brands still make up the greatest percentage of new vehicle sales in this market for the world's number one automaker.

While Chevy's Corvette has long been offered overseas, GM increased its stake in Europe by purchasing Saab

An all-new compact-sized front-wheel drive Cadillac BLS, specifically designed for Europe and sharing parts with the Saab 9-3 will be coming out shortly. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

towards the end of the last century, and in so doing has worked to improve quality and do its best to maintain the Swedish brand's unique identity into the majority of its products. GM also introduced Cadillac into Europe as its second luxury brand, first with the CTS and now with an entire lineup of performance-oriented luxury vehicles, offering a distinctly American twist on motoring. The Cadillac STS arrived in European showrooms last month, as did the new Corvette roadster. What's more, an all-new compact-sized front-wheel drive Cadillac BLS, specifically designed for Europe and sharing parts with the Saab 9-3 will be coming out shortly.