Opel Continues Export Offensive
2018-01-29
New importers for Morocco and Tunisia announced
Sales growth outside Europe at the core of PACE! plan
Rüsselsheim. Opel is systematically continuing its export offensive. The company has successfully signed agreements with renowned sales partners for the fast-growing Moroccan market as well as Tunisia. The new setup will strengthen Opel’s position there considerably going forward.
The Auto Hall Group, via its subsidiary Société Marocaine de l’Automobile Allemande (SM2A), will be responsible for importing and selling Opel vehicles in Morocco as of April, 2018. The Auto Hall Group is one of the largest car dealers in the country with its network of more than 50 sales outlets. Opel will be represented via 10 exclusive outlets, each combining both sales and service.
Morocco is the second largest automotive market in Africa with sales reaching 169,000 units last year. The market grew more than 25 percent the last two years. The company is targeting a market share of five percent by 2023 with its new partner.
Elsewhere, the Rüsselsheim-based carmaker is also targeting growth in Tunisia where STAFIM, the longstanding partner of Peugeot, has been selected as the new importer. STAFIM will start selling Opel vehicles in Tunisia by April 2018 and Opel will be represented by four Opel showrooms: two in the capital Tunis along with one in Sousse and one in Sfax.
“We have taken a further important step that will aid our growth by reaching agreements with new sales partners in Morocco and Tunisia. Opel is focused on growth in both, existing and new markets and I promise that further announcements will follow,” said Peter Küspert, Managing Director Sales and Marketing, Opel Automobile GmbH. “Our customers can look forward to the usual Opel quality – not only when it comes to our cars but also when it comes to service.”
“There is a real potential for Opel in the region and we have drafted a development plan to support increasing profitable sales in Middle East and Africa”, said Jean-Christophe Quémard, Executive Vice-President, Africa-Middle East of Groupe PSA.
Increasing sales significantly in markets outside of Europe is one of the key pillars of the PACE! company plan presented last November. The plan will see Opel return to sustainable profitability.
PACE! targets doubling export sales by 2020. The brand will further strengthen its presence in 15 export markets in Asia, Africa and South American where it is already present in order to achieve this, with the support of Groupe PSA regions. Furthermore, the company will enter many new export markets by 2022. The ultimate goal is that 10 percent of the Opel sales volume is generated outside of Europe by the mid-2020s.