Only local production can succeed in China

According to the German "Business Week" report, Opel interim CEO Thomas Sedran (Thomas Sedran) recently said that car companies can only be successful in China to start production, Opel is currently planning to increase sales in China.

Opel wants to improve performance in China

On December 15, Sedland said in an interview with BusinessWeek that all car companies should build a complete business model and tolerate losses in their European operations. Therefore, they need to increase their exports to overseas countries, including North Africa and Russia. Turkey and China; currently Opel exports only about 5,000 cars to the Chinese market each year.

Sedland said: “In China, we can only succeed in achieving localized production, and the European factories can do little to help. We are developing a plan to increase our sales in the Chinese market. We must find better Method."

The former General Manager of China, Gan Wenwei, who reigned at the beginning of this year revealed that Opel's sales volume in China is about 5,000 units in 2011, and will increase to about 5,500 units in 2012. It emphasizes in particular: “Opel sales will be synchronized with the market. increase."

Opel currently sells three models in the Chinese market: the Astra compact car, the Zafira MPV and the Antara SUV. This year, Opel began listing the Insignia Sports Tourer and Zafili Tourer in China. In addition, Opel has not yet decided whether to sell Meriva microscopy in China.

Opel launches rumors in China

Although the Opel brand has little sales in the Chinese market, the parent company, General Motors, has a number of products that use its technology to sell well in China. Taking the Epsilon II platform developed by Opel's R & D center in Rsselsheim, Germany, as an example, we have derived Buick Regal (starting in 2008), Buick LaCrosse (starting in 2010) and Chevrolet Malibu (2013). The beginning of the money) and Roewe 950 and so on.

In the context of Opel’s eagerness to reduce its dependence on the European market, the company’s internal media and some media have expressed the view that production should be started in China to increase sales in China. Union officials even once stated that GM should allow its partner SAIC to hold Opel. Achieve win-win between GM and Opel.

In an interview last year, Klaus Franz, chairman of the Opel Labor Relations Committee, said that Opel is part of GM’s European operations and has long been confined to regional brand positioning, and has been trying to find a way to break the yoke of GM. ". Franz told Reuters: "One option is to sell Opel shares to SAIC Motor." It believes that this move will help GM to repurchase 1% of Shanghai General Motors' shares and help Opel to enter the Chinese market.

However, Gan Wenwei earlier this year denied the possibility of Opel's recent production in China. According to Gan Wenwei, General Motors has no intention of producing Opel in China in the foreseeable future, and Opel dealers will remain at about 50 and will not increase significantly. Currently, GM brands have a total of 2,700 distributors in the Chinese market. Gan Wenwei said: "Although we decided to increase sales of Opel in China, it will still maintain niche brand positioning. We will continue to succeed in the Chinese market through the Chevrolet, Buick, Wuling and Baojun brands, and Opel will inevitably rejuvenate the European market. ”

Shortly afterwards, the German "Business Daily" was again inconsistent with Gan Wenwei. Although not involved in domestic matters, "Business Daily" announced that Opel plans to expand its sales network in China. The media cited two related information channels, saying that Opel is negotiating with SAIC and intends to establish a sales relationship to sell and sell Opel brand vehicles in the Chinese market. With the help of SAIC, Opel plans to significantly increase the number of dealers in China, from the current 50 to 200 to 300.

The Business Daily also stated that at present, Opel and SAIC Motor have not yet reached an agreement and there are still many obvious problems in many aspects such as finance. The official spokesman of Opel refused to comment on the relevant report, but said: “We have always stated that we are seeking export opportunities and China is undoubtedly an interesting market.”