GM Rebrands Its European Operations as Opel Group

By Ilka Kopplin and Hendrik Varnholt

General Motors Co. (GM) has rebranded its European operations as Opel Group and given the unit responsibility for all its European operations, the company said on Monday.

The new European umbrella company includes many members of the same management team that has run most of GM's European business under the name Adam Opel AG.

The new company, effictive since the start of this month, directs operations for the Opel and Vauxhall brands, as well as for GM's Chevrolet and Cadillac brands in Europe. GM previously announced it would focus its energies on developing the Opel and Vauxhall brands in Europe.

"This reorganization is important for the execution of our ten-year plan," said Opel Group Chairman Karl-Thomas Neumann in a statement.

The image of GM's European subsidiary Opel has suffered considerably over recent years, with dropping sales and heavy losses since 2008. The company now aims to become profitable again by 2016.

Write to Ilka Kopplin at [e-mail] and Hendrik Varnholt at [e-mail]

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