To say Australian car buyers are spoiled for choice in 2012 would be a massive understatement.
There are currently over 50 different car brands available to buyers, if that wasn’t enough GM’s about to bring us another one!
As you would be well aware GM’s long established brand down-under has been Holden.
In Europe GM’s number one brand is Opel and with Australians showing an ever increasing thirst for European cars GM figured it had better try and get some of that market.
So for the very first time the Opel brand is coming our way.
You may remember Holden quite successfully sold the Astra here up until around five years ago; it was in fact a re-badged Opel Astra.
Never the less, and despite it having a few flaws (ask anyone who ever owned one about the brake life!) it was a great success and the Astra name still carries a fair bit of recognition in the Australian market.
Well the Astra is back with a brand new model set to be launched here in September.
No it won’t necessarily be sold in Holden dealerships; GM is setting up an Opel dealer network (although many Holden dealerships will be involved).
It’s going to be interesting to see how it all unfolds and expectations for the new brand and model are sure to be high.
Around a third of all Opel cars sold worldwide carry the Astra badge but it will face some stiff competition not the least from its own cousin the Australian made, and very impressive Holden Cruze.
Interestingly under the skin the two cars are almost exactly the same.
Opel also plans to sell the Barina sized Corsa and mid-sized Insignia down-under.
We cant help but think this is a little bit like that well known fast food chain opening another line of hamburger stores to compete with itself! We will watch it all unfold with keen interest.
