Currently reading: Quick news: Opel out of China; Toyota FCV trials; Subaru's dealer plan
GM to pull Opel out of China after 21 years; Toyota to start FCV trials in 2015, Subaru aims to shore-up poor sales with more dealers

Opel is pulling out of China from next year. Reports suggest the brand has failed to gain traction in the market since launching there more than two decades ago. GM is now expected to invest in Europe to boost sales of Vauxhall/Opel products here.

Public trials of Toyota's hydrogen-powered FCV concept will begin in Japan from 2015. The concept was first seen at the Tokyo motor show last year, and promises a range of some 300 miles as well as a refueling time of three minutes.

Subaru is looking for more dealers to help boost lacklustre sales. Just 2200 Subarus were sold in the UK last year, with targets set at 2700 for this year. The firm currently has 55 UK dealers, but aims to increase that to 80 by the end of 2014.

The next step in Suzuki's plan to introduce a new model every year for four years will be seen at the Geneva motor show next year. The car, dubbed N4, will be a concept version of the firm's Nissan Juke rival. A showroom-bound model will follow later in 2015.

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Oilburner 1 April 2014

subaru sales

In 2003 they sold 12,155 new cars in the UK. Their sales have dropped in every single year since.

Not sure where Autocar get their data from, but the DVLA only records 1,860 Subaru sales in 2013. Not sure why they bother any more at that level. Even Alfa Romeo managed to sell 4,473 cars last year...

bernard elwen 2 April 2014

Oilburner wrote:In 2003 they

Oilburner wrote:

In 2003 they sold 12,155 new cars in the UK. Their sales have dropped in every single year since.

Not sure where Autocar get their data from, but the DVLA only records 1,860 Subaru sales in 2013. Not sure why they bother any more at that level. Even Alfa Romeo managed to sell 4,473 cars last year...

I would imagine that Autocar would have got their data from the figures that the SMMT publish. This seems to prove that there is quite a variation between the number of cars registered and the actual number sold,

Lanehogger 31 March 2014

With Buick the predominant GM

With Buick the predominant GM brand in China, I'm surprised Opel lasted this long, more so as most Buicks are simply rebadged Opel products, such as the Excelle, Regal and Encore.
bonifa 31 March 2014

Increase Subaru sales

If Subaru want to increase sales they could start by importing better cars...
Marv 31 March 2014

Increase Subaru sales

bonifa wrote:

If Subaru want to increase sales they could start by importing better cars...

I totally agree with bonifa, Subaru need to make their product range more desirable if they want to increase sales. All they are doing is increasing their overheads with this move.
Bring back the Legacy Saloon, offer more engine/trim options, bring back halo models like the WRX STi (mentioned last week) and the Spec B, etc and be somewhat more adventurous with the styling. The concepts look great, but are so watered down by the time they reach production my new washing machine inspires me more!! I'm a Subaru fan who is feeling very let down. They should look at Mazda for inspiration.

Andrew 61 31 March 2014

Marv wrote:bonifa wrote:If

Marv wrote:
bonifa wrote:

If Subaru want to increase sales they could start by importing better cars...

I totally agree with bonifa, Subaru need to make their product range more desirable if they want to increase sales. All they are doing is increasing their overheads with this move.
Bring back the Legacy Saloon, offer more engine/trim options, bring back halo models like the WRX STi (mentioned last week) and the Spec B, etc and be somewhat more adventurous with the styling. The concepts look great, but are so watered down by the time they reach production my new washing machine inspires me more!! I'm a Subaru fan who is feeling very let down. They should look at Mazda for inspiration.

Agree with this, I wonder how many cars Subaru sold ten years ago in the UK ? The cars today do seem to be squarely aimed at the US market where they apparently sell well. There's no accounting for taste ;-)

spiceballs 1 April 2014

agree bonifa, marv & A61

except that Subaru is not that popular in US either. Subaru are more sought after in AUS & NZ but even there popularity is waning. And yes, mostly because their model development doesn't seem to have much direction and they are "losing the plot". In my opinion one of their best "recent" developments was their diesel engine but this desperately needs further development - along the VW lines. That, plus sharpening their pens on (and lightening the weight of) existing models would, I think, stand them in better stead than their more recent offerings.