GM: "Nothing keeps us from going back" to Europe

Khodrocar - General Motors essentially pulled out of Europe when it sold its Opel and Vauxhall divisions to Paris-based Peugeot earlier this year. Now, company CEO Mary Barra states the company could go back to the Old Continent sooner or later.

"Nothing keeps us from going back [to Europe]," Barra said while speaking to the Detroit Automotive Press Association. However, she explained the European market needs to become more enticing for GM to consider setting sail across the Atlantic ocean. "If we don't see a path to generate appropriate returns we're going to invest where we see better opportunities," she added.

GM's retreat from Europe was slow and painful. First, the company sold Sweden-based Saab to Holland's Spyker in 2009, sending the brand to get guillotined. Then, it ordered Chevrolet to walk out of the European market after 2015 to give sister company Opel more room to breathe. Finally, it announced the sale of Opel and Vauxhall on the opening day of this year's Geneva Auto Show.

The Camaro, the Corvette, and a handful of Cadillac models remain available in Europe, but few notice their presence. Lamborghini outsold Cadillac in Europe last year. The American brand can't be bothered to build right-hand drive vehicles for England, instead asking British motorists to settle for a left-hand drive car.

In short: GM doesn't have a foot to stand on in Europe right now, and a return to the world's oldest car market would need to be engineered from scratch. If it happens at all, which Barra didn't guarantee.