Can you buy Chevrolet in Europe?
Not as a new car from official European dealers. Today, there is no active European network selling Chevrolet-branded vehicles, so new Chevrolets aren’t available through standard European showrooms. If you want one, your options are limited to importing a used Chevrolet from outside Europe or seeking stock in markets without a formal European presence.
To understand how the brand got to this point and what it means for prospective buyers, this article traces Chevrolet’s European exit, outlines practical purchase paths, and suggests close European alternatives for those seeking similar ownership experiences.
A brief history of Chevrolet in Europe
Chevrolet’s presence in Europe has long been tied to General Motors’ broader European operations, which included Opel and Vauxhall. In the mid-2010s, GM announced a restructuring of its European footprint, culminating in the 2017 sale of Opel and Vauxhall to PSA Group (now part of Stellantis). With Opel/Vauxhall continuing as the GM family’s primary European brands and GM focusing on other regions, Chevrolet’s European lineup effectively disappeared from official showrooms. Since then, there has been no sustained official Chevrolet sales network in the European Union, and any Chevrolet ownership in Europe today relies on non-standard channels such as imports or older stock outside the EU.
GM’s European restructuring and its aftermath
The decision to withdraw Chevrolet from most of Europe reflected a shift in GM’s strategy. Opel and Vauxhall were positioned as the backbone of GM’s European presence, while the brand name Chevrolet largely receded from European consumer-facing markets. The subsequent consolidation of Opel/Vauxhall under new ownership further reduced Chevrolet’s role in Europe. Today, European buyers seeking Chevrolet must contend with the absence of official dealerships and the complexities of cross-border sourcing.
How to buy a Chevrolet in Europe today
If a Chevrolet is a must-have, here are the practical pathways, along with the major caveats you should weigh before proceeding.
- Importing a used Chevrolet from outside Europe (for example, the United States or Canada). This option can broaden model choices, but you will face import duties, VAT, conformity assessments to meet EU safety and emissions standards, potential modifications (lighting, instrument readings), and limited or no manufacturer-backed warranty or servicing in Europe.
- Seeking leftover stock or vehicles from non-European markets where Chevrolet was still sold at the time of export. Availability can be sporadic, and similar regulatory steps and warranty limitations apply.
- Relying on an import-focused dealer network in certain countries. This approach varies by country and is not supported by a Europe-wide Chevrolet service or warranty network.
Importing a Chevrolet into Europe requires thorough due diligence: confirm compliance with EU automotive standards, understand registration hurdles, evaluate warranty coverage and spare-parts access, and budget for potentially higher ongoing maintenance costs. These factors often make ownership more complicated than buying a locally marketed European brand.
European alternatives if you want a similar ownership experience
Because there is no active European Chevrolet dealership network, many buyers look to alternatives that deliver comparable reliability, dealer support, and engineering pedigree within Europe.
- Opel/Vauxhall: The closest local counterparts to Chevrolet in history, now operating under Stellantis with broad model ranges and robust aftersales networks across Europe. They provide familiar GM engineering roots with convenient service coverage.
- Other mainstream European brands: Depending on your priorities (design, technology, price, fuel efficiency), brands like Ford, Renault, Volkswagen, Toyota, or Hyundai offer strong European dealer networks and parts availability, delivering a smoother ownership experience within Europe.
For most European buyers, choosing Opel/Vauxhall or another major European brand will mean fewer import hassles, easier warranty and service access, and simpler resale compared with importing a Chevrolet from outside Europe.
Summary
In short, new Chevrolet cars are not sold through official European channels today. The brand withdrew from active European sales years ago, and there is no widespread European dealership network to purchase new Chevrolets. Prospective buyers who still want a Chevrolet typically pursue used imports or stock from markets outside Europe, bearing in mind compliance, warranty, and service considerations. For a straightforward ownership experience in Europe, Opel/Vauxhall and other European brands remain the practical alternatives that offer similar engineering heritage and reliable aftersales support.
