Chevrolet's Sales Across the Pond Fall Flat

Russian connection: the sales of Chevrolet on the case Pond Flat


Chevrolet sales in Europe of 425,000 units in 2010 hopefully, away from evil, but not by nearly one million units, GM is looking for the next ten years. Reference, Chevrolet Europe, sales declined from a high of 500,000 in 2008.

A major problem in the design of GM Russia, which had been expected to overcome Germany as Europe's largest market in the near future. Automotive sales in the Russian market by 50% last year to 1.45 million in 2009.

Car Facts, a division of PriceWatwerhouseCoopers, explains: "The financial crisis has highlighted a number of structural deficiencies that the likely impact of future labor market."

Here's what the analysts say

Walt Madeira (CSM Worldwide):
Saying "I think that the 425,000 will be difficult this year. Anything over 375,000, I would say that it is very good, but are difficult to do. Long term, I would like, with 600,000 in 2015 or 2016 is likely.

"The [Russian] program of destruction is given to the constructor Russian Lada. Chevrolet sales forecast for a recovery to help in Russia. When a market with three million, which can then sell 300,000 and 350,000, but not seems his case. Russia is not restored as soon as China, Brazil or India. "

Professor Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer (Center for Automotive Research at the University of Duisburg-Essen):
"If they have better models?" No, because VW, Renault-Nissan, Kia, Hyundai, Fiat and many others are selling much better. They have a particular advantage in technology? "It's just GM. They have a better cost structure? No way ... in a few years are Chinese brands such as Geely and BYD in Europe. Will increase the sales of hunting Chevy driver. The brand is very weak."

Jonathon Poskitt (JD Power and Associates):
"If Russia moves forward, Chevrolet is evident from its strong presence there is no advantage. There is no room for the Chevrolet brand in Europe and the increase will help with the creation of a good portfolio of models and the introduction of new segments. .. I see with people coming from Chevrolet Hyundai / Kia, Fiat, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Opel, etc. then compete. "

Chevrolet Europe's product range is the new city car Spark, Aveo small car, the Lacetti compact car, Epica sedan that, the Captiva SUV and the new Cruze.

Within the next two years, GM, the company to improve the line-up with the next generation Aveo, which Orlando MPV and the Chevy Camaro, which will be the show car.

Anyone with ideas to promote, as Chevrolet in Europe, leave your ideas in comments below.

Citroen's DS High Rider Study in the Flesh

While the Survolt sports car concept is definitely the most impressive vehicle at Citroen's Geneva Show booth, the big news for the French firm is the DS High Rider study, a thinly veiled version of the forthcoming DS4 crossover expected to be launched in early 2011.

Part hatchback, part crossover, the DS High Rider combines styling elements from its smaller DS3 sibling and the 2005 C-SportLounge concept with more muscular details, a gently sloping roof line and a higher ride height.

The four-seater, three-door hatchback model uses the new C4's platform, itself due to be launched at the Paris Show this fall. At 4.26m long, 1.82m wide and 1.48m tall, the DS High Rider slightly shorter but wider and taller than the current C4 Coupe.

The concept study uses the PSA Peugeot-Citroen group's full diesel hybrid system combining an HDi engine up front with an electric motor located on the rear axle.

This arrangement allows for any combination of front- (diesel engine only), rear- (electric motor alone) or all-wheel drive (using both the diesel and electric motor).

The production version of the car will be available with conventional gasoline and diesel engines, and quite possibly, with the diesel-hybrid system as Citroen has made it clear that this drivetrain will be available in a series of models starting from 2011.