General Motors Co. is feeling the impact of scrapping incentives in Germany, with sales of Opel suffering in its home market while its overall car sales in Europe dwindle as well.
New-car sales for Opel fell 55% to 17,207 units in April, a 36% drop to 68,301 registrations during the past four months, Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) reveals. Meanwhile, the overall market fell 32% in April and dropped 26% for the first four months of the year. Another factor that led to the 19% drop in April for European new-car sales at Opel and Vauxhall was the trouble in Germany. From January to April 2010, Opel/Vauxhall’s European sales dropped by 4% to 340,888 registrations, according to industry association ACEA. If the drop in sales of GM unit Chevrolet is included, the total European volume at GM’s three-brand group decreased by 19% to 95,706 registrations last month. And for the first four months of the year, there was a 5% drop to 403,953 units. Opel’s sales in Germany fell due to the uncertainty on whether it will be able to receive German state aid to help fund its recovery.
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