For the first time in Fiat’s 111-year history, Italy is no longer the brand’s number one market. The local market has been overtaken by Brazil, purchasing 750,000 cars a year to Italy’s 722,000. If any evidence was needed as to Brazil’s “emerging” market status, the stats speak for themselves. Italy’s purchases decreased by 0.5 percent, while Brazil’s increased by 12.6 percent.

That’s a big number which has left even CEO Sergio Marchionne surprised (figures of this kind were expected for Brazil, but further down the track). What’s more, Fiat seems to be on a winning formula for this South American market, taking out the number one spot for car manufacturers, too. Volkswagen follows, selling 695,395 vehicles and General Motors trails behind a little at 610,836 sales.

The results are not due to one particular model, but a combination of Fiat’s hard work over a number of years to build their presence in the Brazilian market, providing vehicles that customers want to buy, and new car tax incentives from the Brazilian government. By comparison, the Italian car market is likely to experience a slight decrease this year, which could get very costly if the government chooses not to continue scrappage schemes.

Source | Autoblog.it

Continue reading: Brazil becomes Fiat's biggest market

These videos show Spyker to the rescue of Saab, given the 11th hour deal that finally went through, saving the company from closure by parent, General Motors. Saab seems relieved at the outcome, and we’ve no doubt the two European brands will find their way ahead nicely, although possibly slowly.

The videos show the press conference with Saab CEO Jan Åke Jonsson (who looks very pleased) and Spyker CEO Victor Muller, who looks quietly confident. Here’s to hoping the future will be a bright one for Saab. After the jump is a celebratory video of workers from Trollhättan, who got the day off when liquidators packed up and went home.

Continue reading: Saab celebrates: press conference and workers videos

Opel experienced positive sales in 2009, reaching second place in its in local German market ahead of Mercedes and BMW. The results come despite the uncertainty over its possible sale and then reverse decision by General Motors to keep the precious European brand. While helped on the way by the German government, Opel still managed a sales increase of 31 percent.

Which begs the question of why GM was so bent on selling the brand in the first place. While we ponder that, 2010 is looking like a positive year with the new Opel Astra heading for success and new business plans on the table that should hopefully prove sensible.

Moving ahead, 2011 will see just one Opel sports model available in the range, in the form of the Opel Astra coupe. The coupe will be a true sports model, and not just a reinterpretation of the five-door version, and we could even see a possible re-birth of the Opel Calindra. Currently, the Opel Tigra and Opel GT are on stand by with no promises that they will appear on the product list next year.

Source | Auto Motor und Sport

Continue reading: Opel Astra coupe only sports model for 2011

The Opel Ampera has yet to see the market, but an electric SUV version is already in the works, according to reports. The large electric sedan is the European equivalent of the Chevrolet Volt, and now that Opel looks set to remain firmly in the hands of General Motors, the Opel Ampera is almost guaranteed production.

In that case, we could see an Ampera launch as early as 2011, with the electric SUV version turning up in 2013. The SUV may be a stand alone model or it could represent a new range with petrol and diesel models, too.

Source | Automarket

Continue reading: Opel Ampera electric SUV

In the world of auto blogs and car blogging, there’s a new kid on the block in the form of Nick Reilly, Opel/Vauxhall CEO. It will be interesting to see the success of this initiative as often blogging CEOs and PR departments are not always welcome in the blogosphere.

If the introduction is anything to go by - “We look forward to having an interesting, productive dialog” says Opel - it could be a good thing. But if it turns into a propaganda machine for Opel, we’re definitely not on a winner. I’ll be curious enough to keep an eye on the blog as it goes along and hopefully it might prove to be an interesting read.

To see the blog, and Nick Reilly’s first post on his whirlwind tour of Europe, and getting the government back on side, go to Driving Conversations at GMBlogs.

Continue reading: Opel/Vauxhall CEO Nick Reilly blogs

Earlier this month, there had been whisperings that Toyota would lose its crown as the biggest car producer in the world, and that Volkswagen could take the number one spot. According to latest reports, though, Volkswagen still sits at number three on podium, behind Toyota at number one and General Motors at number two.

Despite coming in third, Volkswagen is closing the gap between it and Toyota, halving the difference of number of cars produced between the two in just 12 months. I can only imagine that this puts it very close behind General Motors. The explanation is that Volkswagen has suffered less in the economic crisis, probably meaning that Toyota and General Motors have been producing less than usual.

In the first nine months of 2009, Volkswagen lost just 5.5 percent of its sales volume, while Toyota went backwards by a full 20 percent, and General Motors by 17. Still, if Volkswagen were to become the number one of the world’s car makers, this would only happen in a few years’ time, being more than a million vehicles away from Toyota’s and General Motors’ figures. We’ll see what 2010 brings with a refreshed General Motors and Volkswagen gaining even more ground in Europe. We could still see the numbers change, although the traditional rivalry looks assured.

Source | Auto Motor und Sport

Continue reading: World's biggest car manufacturer: Volkswagen behind Toyota and General Motors

Here is a rendering of the possible Opel “Allegra”, future Opel city car model. In a crowded and competitive sector, it would compete with the Ford Ka, Volkswagen Up!, Fiat 500, Renault Twingo, and company. The car would appear directly below the Agila in the Opel product range, and would take on the role of entry-level Opel, with a price as low as 6,000 euros.

The Opel Allegra would be slightly longer than three metres, and would be built on a smaller version of the Agila or Corsa platform. Another hypothesis is that it could even be built by the General Motors Korea research and development division (possibly under the Chevrolet brand in the Asian market).

However, future Opel-GM collaboration would not occur if the Opel-Magna deal comes off, although GM may still seek influence for its Chevrolet models. The Opel Allegra city car could see a 2012-2013 debut.

Source | Caradisiac

Continue reading: Opel city car Allegra rendering

According to the 2009 Internet Auto Award from AutoScout24, Europe’s favourite car is the Opel Insignia. We perhaps would have placed our bets on the Opel Astra, but clearly a sedan is still more popular than a hatchback.

The trophy is known as the ‘Carolina’ and was accepted by the company at an awards ceremony in Munich. Carl-Peter Forster, chairman of the Supervisory Board of Adam Opel GmbH, said: “This new award for the Insignia proves that our blend is right: sporty, elegant design combined with innovative technology. The new Opel philosophy also resonates with the customer.”

Opel has already sold more than 150,000 Insignia in Europe, and the Astra is also a big-selling model for the company, taking up a third of its sales volume. It begs the question as to why General Motors really wants to sell the brand, and whether the sales success with this model design will continue with new owners. Opel Insignia OPC in the pics.

Continue reading: Opel Insignia Europe's favourite car

General Motors‘ European president Carl-Peter Foster has apparently said the Opel will build a compact electric car at an affordable price for the city car segment of the market, as reported by German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

The new Opel city electric would be built from an all-new platform which would be the basis of future compact cars to follow suit. The aim is to create a new family of compact cars, starting with the electric vehicle to debut in 2012.

Apparently GM Europe is investing 250 million euros in the project, so we can assume they’re serious. Watch this space for future developments.

Source | Autoblog.it

Continue reading: Opel to make electric city car family from 2012

This Cadillac commercial promotes the 2010 Cadillac range in a space/lift-off metaphor showing the CTS Sedan, CTS Wagon, the SRX SUV and an exciting new model for 2010, the CTS Coupè.

The CTS Coupè should be ready in summer of next year, and with the commercial set to re-introduce Cadillac to the American market, the brand is taking on some responsibility for the new General Motors future.

Continue reading: Cadillac commercial featuring new CTS coupe

As General Motors emerges from bankruptcy, the proceedings of the last few months are being felt in Europe as Saab finalises deals for its sale next month. According to reports a binding agreement to sell the Saab brand to the Koenigsegg Group will occur by the end of the month.

Saab is preparing its new 9-5 for production and its official presentation in September, before sales commence in spring 2010. The Koenigsegg deal would mean that GM transfers equipment to the Trollhättan facilities to manufacture the 9-5.

Saab has been working on its 9-5 business plan, with possible targets of 45,000 units to be produced per year, similar to the current model. The aim is to have a three percent share of the global 1.2 million large car market.

Source | Autocar

Continue reading: GM to sell Saab to Koenigsegg Group by August

General Motors has been busy with announcements today, with the first being that it has officially emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The announcement comes only 39 days after the company had originally filed for bankruptcy.

Having gotten itself out of bankruptcy, the company is set to undergo a rebirth and will tackle its controversial executive culture by cutting about 35 percent of staff from its executive level. There is no word as to when the company might pay back the 50 billion dollar taxpayer funded loans it has received, but after a tough month in June, here’s hoping the American auto giant is back on its feet.

After the general announcement that General Motors had emerged from bankruptcy, it also revealed part of its strategy to get sales back on track. The plan is to test a new strategy with eBay online auctions in which customers can bid for new cars online rather than visiting dealerships. Fritz Henderson revealed the plans to sell cars online, saying:

“Customers will be able to bid on actual vehicles just like they do in an eBay auction, including the option of choosing a predetermined ‘Buy It Now’ price… we’ll be testing this and other ideas with our dealers over the next few weeks, and hope to expand and build upon them in the coming months… in all cases, our goal is to make the shopping and buying process as easy as possible for GM customers - on their time and their terms. Stay tuned.”

Apparently ‘revolutionising’ the way people buy cars will include an innovative partnership with eBay in California. The big question is how General Motors will now deal with its dealership network and whether some dealers may find business harder as customers choose to buy online in what may be considered an empowering move for consumers.

Source | Left Lane News and Autoblog

Continue reading: General Motors to sell cars on eBay