PARIS: Chevrolet Europe hopes seven new model launches this year, will help it equal or beat the 2.5 percent market share it won in Europe last year, the chief executive of the General Motors unit told Reuters.
The company's 2.2 percent share in the first quarter puts it on track for the year, Wayne Brannon said in an interview.
"We typically grow our share throughout the year so although that was below the 2010 2.5 percent level it was in line with our expectations and we're expecting to at least equal the 2.5 percent or grow it slightly for 2011."
"In 2012 we should move up whether we get to 3 percent (market share) in 2012, 2013 or 2014 I don't know," Brannon said.
NEW MODEL LAUNCHES
Chevrolet sold 477,000 cars in the region last year, with Russia, Uzbekistan, Italy, France and Germany making up its top five markets.
The brand could double sales to around 1 million units in 4-5 years, Brannon said, adding that the launch of seven new cars this year would move it towards that goal.
"We expect to have the potential to move to 1 million cars across Europe by 2016 I've been saying that for a while but it looks as though it's going to happen," Brannon said.
"The demand for Orlando simply is outpacing supply," Brannon said, referring to the seven-seater it recently launched.
Chevrolet plans to launch the Volt plug-in electric car in Europe on Nov. 3, to coincide with the company's centenary celebration.
It is currently deciding which four to six European markets will get the first Volts, which Chevrolet touts as the answer for drivers who want to go green without the so-called "range anxiety" of a full electric vehicle.
"I think true electric cars unfortunately will not be as practical as they need to be for real people with real lives," Brannon said.
Numbers will remain in the hundreds to start with, and Brannon said he hoped Europe would take about 1,000-1,500 of the 12,000 Volts expected to be built worldwide next year.
The Volt is designed to run for 56 kilometres on a full charge of its lithium-ion battery pack. After that, a 1.4-litre engine extends the driving range to about 610 kilometres.
The Volt will compete on the roads in Europe with PSA Peugeot Citroen's iOn and C-Zero, Nissan Motor's Leaf, which are already available, and Renault's Fluence and Kangoo electric models.
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