According to preliminary numbers, the Rüsselsheim-based carmaker increased sales in August by more than 7,300 vehicles or 12.8% compared to the same period of 2014 to around 64,500 units. As a result, Opel outgrew the market more than threefold in August.

The year-to-date figures was also positive – despite Opel pulling out of the Russian market. From January to August, the brand sold over 735,000 vehicles – around 4% or 27,300 units more than during the same period of last year. This is equivalent to a market share of 5.83%.

“This sales success is mainly down to our new models that are extremely popular with the customers across Europe. The new Astra, which will celebrate its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show and is a real quantum leap, will add additional drive to our sales,” said Peter Christian Küspert, vice president sales and aftersales of the Opel Group.

Opel and its sister brand Vauxhall posted an increase in volume in more than 19 European markets for the first eight months of 2015 including Germany (+3%), the UK (+3%), France (+6%), Spain (+17%), Portugal (+18%), Poland (+18%), Italy (+20%) and Turkey (+34%).

Strong results were also seen by the light commercial vehicle division, with sales up by 25.4% to 65,350 units compared to the same period of last year. The market share increased by more than 0.5 percentage points to around 4%. All three light commercial vehicle models recorded an increase of sales, with Movano sales up by around 32%, Vivaro sales by more than 34% and the Combo posted an increase of around 14%.