VW Golf Keeps its Sales Crown in Europe for 2011, Polo Comes in 2nd,Ford Fiesta 3rd

The sixth generation of the Volkswagen Golf is in its final year with a replacement due to be unveiled at the upcoming Paris Motor Show this fall, yet it still managed to sell more cars than any other model in Europe in 2011 for a third year in a row, according to data provided from JATO Dynamics.

Volkswagen delivered 484,547 units of the Golf in 2011, down 1.6% over the previous year. The German company also took second spot with the Polo that sold 356,490 cars, up 0.5%, while the Ford Fiesta with 348,465 sales (-13.3%), the Opel / Vauxhall Corsa with 313,325 units (-1.7%) and the Renault Clio with 294,172 (-13.1%) complete the Top 5.

We should note that all Top 10 best-sellers came from either German (7 models) or French (3 models) brands.

JATO Dynamics says that outside the top ten, certain models performed much better than their predecessors did including Peugeot’s new 508, which saw its sales rise almost three times achieved by its predecessor, the 407, in 2010, the new Ford C-Max/Grand C-Max, Citroën C4, BMW X3 and Kia Sportage.

Overall, the European market shrunk 1.2% over 2010 to 13,543,179 units in 2011.

Greece and Portugal recorded the largest drops with 30.7% and 31.3% respectively, while on the other side of the spectrum, Latvia and Lithuania posted gains of 72.5% and 66.0% respectively.

The top selling brand in Europe was of course Volkswagen with 1,678,279 units (+9.1%) followed by Ford with 1,087,912 (-2.8%) and Renault with 1,038,313 (-8.8%). Out of the top ten brands in 2011, only Volkswagen, BMW, Audi and Mercedes ended 2011 with no reduction in sales.

“Germany is clearly leading Europe in terms of a market for new cars as well as manufacturing models which appeal to consumers across the region. This is even more impressive considering the challenges we saw in the overall European market during 2011," commented Gareth Hession, Vice President, Research at JATO.

Source: JATO Dynamics

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GM Europe President Nick Reilly to Retire, will be Replaced by Opel Boss

General Motors has announced that 61 Nick Reilly, president of GM Europe, decided to retire in March 2012. Reilly has been with the company for 37 years, in different positions in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Reilly will be replaced by Karl-Friedrich Stracke, vice president of GM Global Engineering and current CEO of Opel / Vauxhall. Stracke Reilly will replace the January 1, 2012 and will join the Executive Committee of GM's operations, maintaining its position of Opel / Vauxhall CEO.

Reilly was the first president of GM Daewoo in 2002, and was also the soul of the growth of the automobile in Asia and Latin America regions, before taking the top spot at GM Europe in 2009.

"Nick Reilly responded to the call for GM at every turn," said company CEO Dan Akerrson. "He returned to Europe and has successfully led the turnaround of our business is in one of the time most tumultuous in the history of our company. "

Reilly, the GM will remain in the operations of the Executive Committee, a consultant until his retirement in March.

 

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GM Says Opel Astra Convertible's Replacement to be a Standalone Model Like the VW Eos

Earlier this year, the European arm of General Motors and in his plans to replace the Opel / Vauxhall Astra Convertible with the new model into production in 2013 at the Gliwice plant in Poland, alongside the Astra models.

And while we know that open-top model will be based on the new generation Astra compact, which the general does not say is whether it will carry the Astra nameplate.

Until now, it is because the car magazine in an interview, head of GM Europe Design, Mark Adams, said the new sedan has a separate, stand-alone model for the likes of Volkswagen Eos hardtop convertible.

"This machine requires a new name - looks nothing like the Astra," Adams told a British newspaper.

The Company has issued a teaser sketch of the car will continue to provide space for four, but get rid of the old Astra Convertible is retractable hardtop. The engine range is expected to be the same as the models GTC / sedan.

Adams added that 2012 will be a busy year for Opel with a lot of new presentations.

"Then in 2012 a string of a much finer car launches to change the perception people have of Vauxhall and Opel," said Adams Car.

In addition, Convertible, Opel is also provided, Premium Mini and a small Nissan Juke-like crossovers.
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Hyundai Photo Gallery Live from the Frankfurt Motor Show

The 64th International Auto Show in Frankfurt is well underway and in this post, we bring you some live photos from Hyundai's stand.

The South Korean automaker's most crucial debut is the second generation of the i30 hatchback that targets the popular European C-segment with rivals such as the Opel/Vauxhall Astra, VW Golf, and Citroen C4.

The compact-size model goes on sale next spring with a choice of 1.4-liter and 1.6-liter engines in both gasoline and diesel flavors. You can read more about it in our previous article here.

Joining the i30 at Hyundai's booth is the rest of the South Korean automaker's range including the new mid-size i40 sedan and station wagon models, and the Veloster sport hatch.

The latter was also shown in a special edition featuring a matte gunmetal paintjob with barcode-like graphics reading "2011091325" and carbon fiber trim on the front grille and spoilers, the rear diffuser, mirror caps and side protection strips.

 

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