Opel Astra: why is it stuck?

Hard work for the French Opel Astra…

The most modern Astra in 2021

Since its inception in 1991, The Opel Astra has its sights set on the Volkswagen Golf in the C hatchback segment. Although it has always been a good car, it has often suffered from a lack of originality, with an austere interior and an exterior design that lacks much pep.
However, with the arrival of the Stellantis group in 2017, things changed for the German manufacturer who completely overhauled his image in a few months. For him the new generation was launched in 2021so the Astra has adopted the Vizor, a new front end that characterizes recent Opels, just like that. a clean and taut line that aims to be strong as you wish.
The interior follows this new trend with a highly refined dashboard with two 10-inch screens. The AGR (German Institute for Back Health) approved seats, available as standard or as an option for all trims, are near perfection.
About when he finishes, he makes impressive progress. Add to this full range of engines (110 and 130 hp petrol, 130 hp diesel, 136 hp microhybrid, and 180 hp plug-in hybrid, and even 156 hp electric). Hit the point?

Astra is struggling in France

Well, think that no, at least not in France. Although its relationship with the Peugeot 308 and Citroën C4 might have convinced diehards like us, Astra started (very) timidly in France.
Last year he just got it 3,600 customers with us, compared to 25,000 in Germany for example, or a market share of around 1.5% in the compact sedan segment (segment C). In comparison to the same time, Peugeot 308 sold 45,564 copiesVolkswagen Golf in 15,111 units, thermal Renault Mégane (although at the end of its life) in 11,136 units.
A cold shower for this new Astra, therefore. But what happened? According to our colleagues from the Journal de l’Automobile, in its first full year in 2022, Astra was disrupted by the semiconductor crisis from China, which slowed down production at the Rüsselsheim factory and caused delivery times to be extended.
In fact, sales were better in 2023, but with a difficult start, difficult work. To remedy the situation, Opel relies heavily on it this year’s arrival of the SportsTourer electric station wagonas well as a new version of the microhybrid 136-horsepower, which has been introduced recently.

A winning strategy that has already borne fruit since the first quarter of 2024, Astra saw its sales increase in France by 83%. He is finally ready to get back on track.