The Opel brand returns to Russia on the shoulders of the PSA

26 February 2019

The PSA intends to increase sales outside Europe, due to German brand Opel

The PSA group, bought two years ago a German (Opel) and English (Vauxhall) branches of GM, which means by 2021, to increase sales outside the European market in half. This provision is included in the second stage of its strategic plan Push to Pass. For members of the group brands distributed future footholds. So for Peugeot is "front" in North America, for Citroen – India and for Opel – Russia. So that the long predicted by analysts and insiders the return of Opel to the Russian market (perhaps arising immediately upon receipt of news about buying a German brand by the French) is now confirmed officially. The main mystery for today – the exact composition of the future model line Opel in Russia as the main obstacle here is the prohibition of General Motors to sell in Russia the models on its platforms (here's to you and "purely business" decision to leave GM from Russia in 2015 – outright sanctions policy initiated in Washington), and the translation of the line Opel platform of the PSA Group, finally will only end 2024. Therefore the former bestsellers Mokka and Astra and Corsa, Insignia will not be informed of the change of generations. So that the focus will have to do crossovers Grandland Crossland X and X, as well as on the LCV, and, last, it seems so far, and will be the only returning "Opel".

Accordingly minivan Opel Zafira Life, made on the same EMP2 platform as the minivans and Peugeot Citroen SpaceTourer Traveller will begin to gather at the factory in Kaluga SPMA

Maybe later in Russia will come and "heel" Opel Combo, also representing the twin models of Citroen Berlingo and Peugeot Rifter

The new head of the Russian division of Opel in Eurasia appointed 60-year-old Serb Dragan Nenadovic

Previously, she spent 12 years at Toyota, and since 1997 operates in Opel. In the period 2005-2008, he was responsible for the sales of GM in Russia. In recent years, he worked in sales of Opel in the Balkans (Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania and Bulgaria).
The return of Opel to PSA Group could be a lifeline on the Russian market, because according to the Avtostat info in 2018, the Peugeot brand sold in Russia, including LCVs, only 5463 units of cars (+13.5 per cent) and Citroen – 3792 units (minus 9.3%). However, no French cars model did not come out even in the Top 10 in their segments. Except that revived the market vans Peugeot Traveller (938 units) and Citroen SpaceTourer (639 units). So, most likely it was with minivan Zafira Life, and begin the return of "German quality" Opel.