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

But what might be more important to the automaker overall, now that GM has created GMDAT

The European market may open up to some of Chevy's more profitable future models. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

(GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Company) out of the wreckage of Daewoo, is that various models previously sold in Europe as Daewoos are now re-branded as Chevys, and now the bowtie brand can be purchased in England, Germany, Spain and France, a country that may even warm up to the very French "Chevrolet" nameplate despite its "Heartbeat of America" origins, the market may open up to some of Chevy's more profitable future models. One such model may be a compact SUV, shown at the Geneva auto show earlier this year as the S3X Concept.

Lastly, Hummer has also been added to GM's overseas arsenal, with the new H3 being produced in South Africa for global markets and due to arrive in Europe later this year.

Altogether, GM has sold more than 1,063,000 vehicles in Europe from January 1 to June 30, 2005, which is an

GM also reports that its Chevrolet, Saab, Cadillac, Corvette and Hummer divisions all "performed well in their respective markets". (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

impressive increase of more than 23,000 units, or 2.3 percent over the same period last year. The Detroit-based automaker's share of the European market increased from 9.5 to 9.7 percent in the process.

Opel and Vauxhall accounted for 878,500 vehicles total, with the best-selling Astra model good for 2.6 percent of the entire European new vehicle market. GM also reports that its Chevrolet, Saab, Cadillac, Corvette and Hummer divisions all "performed well in their respective markets", a positive sign.

While GM is struggling to hold onto market share in North America, at least it looks to be gaining ground in Europe.