ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) -- General Motors Corp. said Thursday sales of its Opel and Vauxhall brands dropped over 6 percent in Europe during the first nine months of the year as the global economic downturn hit consumer spending.
Saab fared even worse, with sales plummeting 16.7 percent during the three quarters to October.
Overall, sales of GM brands across the Continent fell by 1.9 percent to just over 1.6 million vehicles, the company's European subsidiary said. This compares with an industrywide drop in European sales of 0.2 percent.
GM said strong growth in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the success of its Chevrolet brand helped stabilize sales figures.
Earlier this week GM joined other auto makers in announcing production cutbacks in Europe as the financial crisis is expected to keep car sales under pressure.