General Motors (GM 1.20%) has lost billions -- $18 billion, to be exact -- on its troubled European operation since 1999. Its problems have been exacerbated by deep recessions in several European countries that have driven new-car sales to lows not seen in 20 years.

But despite the grim sales figures, GM managed to narrow its loss in Europe last quarter. The secret? A big change in strategy. In this video, Fool.com contributor John Rosevear looks at the latest sales figures from Europe -- and at what GM is doing to try to bring Europe back into the black.