John Revill

July 7, 2008 06:01 CET

WROCLAW, Poland -- Chevrolet expects to increase its European sales by 10 percent to nearly a half million cars this year.

"I think we can grow from 450,000 to close to 500,000 this year," Steve Flamand, Chevrolet Europe product marketing manager, said.

Flamand said Chevrolet mainly expects to increase sales in growth markets such as Russia, Turkey and eastern Europe.

But the brand also believes it can boost sales slightly in western Europe despite the region's economic downturn and forecasts for a flat new-car market in 2008.

"For other volume brands, thinking about growth is quite a challenge," Flamand told Automotive News Europe at an event here.

There are a couple reasons why Chevrolet is optimistic.

1. It thinks the Aveo small car will appeal to budget-conscious buyers in western and eastern Europe. Chevrolet started building four-door notchback versions of the Aveo in the FSO factory in Warsaw in January. Production of the five-door Aveo will start later this month and production of the three-door begins in October. The starting price for the three-door Aveo will be €9,990 in Germany.

2. Chevrolet increased its dealer network in central and eastern Europe to 506 sales outlets last year from 426 in 2006.

"Building cars in Poland will help and selling the Aveo in three-, five- and four-door versions will meet the needs of many people right now," Flamand said.

Chevrolet expects the Aveo to account for most of the expected sales increase. European sales of the model are expected to rise to 150,000 this year from 110,00 in 2007.

Also contributing to the sales growth will be the Epica upper-medium car. Chevrolet expects Epica sales in Europe to grow to 20,000 this year from 14,000 last year.

Executives believe the brand is well positioned for growth with its future product plan.

In October, the carmaker's replacement for the lower-medium Lacetti will be unveiled. The successor to the Matiz minicar is due in 2010.

Chevrolet's Flamand says the new Aveo will boost brand.

European sales of the Chevrolet Aveo are expected to rise to 150,000 this year.

Link: http://www.autonews.com/article/20080707/A...006417/1193/ANE

I find it difficult to swallow after reading the reviews of the Aveo in Consumer's Reports etc...

Time will tell.

I find it difficult to swallow after reading the reviews of the Aveo in Consumer's Reports etc...

Time will tell.

They're reviewing the old Aveo, not the new one. This from a magazine that finally admits it was biased toward Toyota all along - like we didn't know that.