Talks are ongoing for a labor proposal to save an Opel plant in Antwerp, Belgium, from being shut down, according to an Opel spokesman.

A source said that the proposal anticipates finding a private investor who could potentially cooperate with Opel in producing convertible models. In late January, CEO Nick Reilly said that it had plans for its Antwerp plant to close by June or July, unless an alternative could be found through negotiations with the unions. Reilly said that GM has made several attempts to find another way but it had failed to do so. Back then, Reilly had said that the company is losing money and that there has to be action. Opel’s European works council, which regarded the closure as a “breach of contract” that would lead to millions in unnecessary costs, withdrew its offer to support Reilly’s restructuring plan with 265 million euros in annual wage concessions. The unions are upset as well with Reilly’s intention to cut Opel’s capacity by a fifth and eliminate 8,300 jobs in Europe. In an attempt to gain support from governments and unions, GM last week tripled its funding commitment for Opel and lowered its request for state aid.

(more…)

Tags:car news, GM, Opel, opel antwerp plant save
No Comments »

Opel and Vauxhall are proceeding with plans for an upmarket city car. In an interview, company chief Nick Reilly said that there won’t be a collaboration with another manufacturer.

Reilly made the announcement weeks ago that there are plans for an “aspirational” supermini as part of his major restructuring plan for Opel/Vauxhall. There are speculations that due to economic constraints, the company would be forced to look for a partner, similar to what it did with Agila, which is produced by Suzuki and also mechanically identical to the Splash. But circumstances are now different; it’s believed that the new Opel city car could be built on the next generation Corsa platform, which is currently being developed by GM Dat in Korea and will also underpin future small Chevrolets. Reilly said that with VW taking a 20% stake in Suzuki, the company’s own relationship with the Japanese carmaker is being threatened. He pointed out that the next Agila would most likely be affected by the new arrangement, indicating that Vauxhall’s next generation budget ‘mini could also be a go-it-alone project.

(more…)

Tags:car news, Opel, opel mini car
No Comments »

Opel/Vauxhall won’t be teaming up with Suzuki Motor Corp. as it builds a new Agila small minivan, according to its head of sales and marketing Alain Visser.

In an interview at the Geneva Motor Show, Visser said that the existing contract with Suzuki will expire pretty soon and that while Suzuki now has “different plans,” it will continue to work with Suzuki on the current Agila. Speculations that the partnership would end had spread ever since Volkswagen AG agreed in December to buy a 20% stake in Suzuki Motor Corp. Suzuki and Opel cooperate in the production of the Agila and its sister model, the Suzuki Splash. Visser added that aside from plans for the three- and five-door Corsa, and the minicar, “there is room for a future Agila.” The present Agila model will be replaced by 2012 at the latest; however, Visser declined to provide more details on the new car or of when it will be launched. Mark Adams, Opel’s vice-president for design, gave assurances that the new Agila would not cannibalize its other cars in the small car segment. Adams said that the growth of the small-car market is significant.

(more…)

Tags:car news, new opel agila, Opel
Comments Off

The latest version of Vauxhall / Opel’s people-carrier, the 2011 Meriva five-seater MPV which was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show is priced from £15,495 (15,900 euros in Germany for the entry-level 1.4-liter gasoline engine which delivers 74 kW/100 hp) and will go on sale in the UK at the middle of the year.

The carmaker has made the vehicle longer, wider, taller and with more style. For the first time, the MPV is based on the Astra/Zafira platform, which has adopted the “flex doors” (similar to the Rolls-Royce’s coach doors). The Meriva has been leading the small MPV class since launch in 2003, with more than a million sales. Continued after the jump!

(more…)

Tags:2010 geneva motor show, 2010 opel meriva, 2010 vauxhall meriva, car news, Geneva Motor Show, Opel, Vauxhall
No Comments »

Opel presented its futuristic vision of what an eco friendly and advanced design car means, through the new Flextreme GT/E Concept. They propose a completely electric, zero emissions solution which will be available in the future on various Opel brands.

With its 4.7 m in length the new model could reach the family range and demonstrates that E-REV tech can be used also on large sized cars. At the exterior the Flextreme shows a nervous body with a very innovative look, featuring new trapezoidal grille with a wing-shaped chrome bar carrying a large Opel emblem and wing-shaped LED headlights. The new car receives an electric powertrain that can reach a top speed of over 200km/h and can be admired at the Geneva Motor Show. Photo gallery after the jump!

(more…)

Tags:2010 geneva motor show, car news, flextreme gte concept, Geneva Motor Show, Opel, opel flextreme gt/e concept
No Comments »

It may be a while before a decision on the restructuring plan for General Motors Co.’s Opel unit is made, according to the unit’s CEO. German paper Welt am Sonntag reported that Opel head Nick Reilly said that it will be some time before GM is able to persuade all parties involved that its plan is the right one.

This piece of tidbit is however, only a portion of the article to be published on Sunday. Welt am Sonntag said that General Motors will eventually receive support for the Opel restructuring. Opel plans to increase sales by 500,000 automobiles to 1.7 billion cars by 2015.

(more…)

Tags:car news, Opel, opel restructuring plan
No Comments »

Leading up to the events of the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, all eyes were at a newly installed recharging station at Opel’s headquarters.

The first prototype of the upcoming Opel Ampera-Europe’s version of the Chevrolet Volt got its initial charge of electricity at the Rüsselsheim, Germany headquarters. The Ampera will participate in a cross-country journey from Rüsselsheim to Geneva in Switzerland. The prototype vehicle will get power for the 370-mile journey from its 16kWh lithium-ion battery. After about 40 miles, the battery’s charge will run low. This will trigger the Ampera’s on-board internal combustion engine to start to generate electricity to drive the wheels for the rest of the journey. The new Ampera, which is basically Opel’s version of the Chevrolet Volt, will go on sale early next year. Deliveries for its American counterpart will start towards the end of this year. Photo gallery after the jump!

(more…)

Tags:2010 geneva motor show, car news, Geneva Motor Show, Opel, opel ampera, opel ampera geneva
No Comments »

German Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle confirmed that there are demands for General Motors Co. to contribute considerably more towards the restructuring costs for Opel, GM’s European division.

A report by Germany’s Handelsblatt newspaper last Monday cited German government sources who said that before Berlin agrees to provide state aid, GM would have to increase its share of the 3.3 billion-euro ($4.5 billion) reorganization costs for Opel. In an effort to make Opel profitable, GM is asking European countries with Opel plants to contribute 2.7 billion euros ($3.7 billion) of aid. GM is asking Germany for 1.5 billion euros ($2.05 billion) in loans or loan guarantees. The sources said further that there are demands for GM to fund at least half (1.65 billion euros or $2.25 billion). GM has so far, committed to pay only 600 million ($820.5 million).

(more…)

Tags:car news, GM, Opel, opel state aid
No Comments »

A German government advisory panel denied a Financial Times report that the task force had deemed the plan “unqualified for government loan guarantees.” Deputy Economy Minister Jochen Homann clarifies that it has yet to decide if it will provide state aid for General Motors Co.’s reorganization plan for European arm Opel.

In an interview with Reuters, Homann said that Opel would be treated like any other company in terms of its request for state aid. To aid in the 3.3 billion euro revamp, GM is asking European countries with Opel plants to contribute 2.7 billion euros ($3.7 billion). GM is asking Germany specifically for 1.5 billion in loans or loan guarantees. German Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle has been openly skeptical of this plan while German states with Opel plants have been more open to the idea of using taxpayer funds to save the most jobs as possible. The Opel plan calls for cutting 8,300 jobs (4,000 in Germany, a plant closure in Belgium, 20% capacity cuts and a return to profit by 2012.

(more…)

Tags:car news, Opel, opel state aid
Comments Off

Opel revealed today its Flextreme GT/E Concept, a new vehicle set to make its official debut at this year’s Geneva Motor Show which promises to illustrate how extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV) technology can be plugged into large or mid-size vehicles.

“The Flextreme GT/E concept shows the shape of things to come from Opel,” says Frank Weber, Vice President, Corporate and Product Planning. Regarding its design, the Flextreme GT/E Concept shows coupe-like proportions and it has a clean, frontal styling featuring a low hood line and an extended nose section, completed by the LED headlamps. Continued after the jump!

(more…)

Tags:2010 geneva motor show, car news, flextreme gte, Geneva Motor Show, Opel, opel flextreme gt/e concept
No Comments »