Chief Executive Officer Nick Reilly today announced an ambitious five-year €11 billion Plan for the Future that will reinvigorate 80 percent of Opel/Vauxhall carlines and place a strong emphasis on alternative propulsions.

At the same time, Reilly said the external auditor Warth & Klein judged the plan sound and viable. With this assessment, the company this morning formally applied for loans or loan guarantees from the German government.

“We are extremely pleased that we now have independent confirmation that our plan is sound and will place Opel and Vauxhall on the road to sustainable, long-term profitability,” Reilly said. “We now have a road map, we know where we are headed and we are working with all our partners so we can switch into high gear for a successful future.” Read the rest of this entry »

The second-generation Opel Movano grows in size and range coverage, thereby raising the bar in the European light commercial vehicle segment with a new large van platform. It introduces a host of innovative technologies, a superbly comfortable and practical interior, competitively low fuel consumption and best-in-class operating costs. The practical multi-talented van’s design clearly identifies it as a member of the new, highly decorated Opel product generation that includes the Insignia and Astra. The new Movano will be launched across Europe this spring.

The new Opel Movano provides a wider selection of body variants than most of the competition, offering a model for nearly every customer-specific utility profile. The range includes panel vans, available in four vehicle lengths and three roof heights, platform, chassis, crew cabs and combi versions. The modular platform, developed jointly with Renault, comes with either front- or rear-wheel drive. Rear-wheel drive variants can be ordered with dual rear wheels. The gross vehicle weight range has been increased to up to 4,5t with payloads up to 2.5t. Opel is also working with a wide range of approved conversion specialists to provide even more options through Opel Commercial Vehicle Dealerships. Read the rest of this entry »

As Opel moves quickly on its way towards a viable future, the company announced today the intent to wind down its manufacturing plant in Antwerp, Belgium in the course of 2010.

Opel will continue to engage in the official information and consultation process with employee representatives regarding the envisaged restructuring.

“We fully understand the effect this announcement has on the Antwerp employees and their families and we sympathise with them,” said Opel CEO Nick Reilly. “Many have been dedicated to the plant over generations and have done an excellent job producing great quality cars. The decision to announce this today was not taken lightly; instead, it is the unfortunate result of the current business reality. We must make this announcement now so that we can secure a viable future for the entire Opel and Vauxhall operations.” Read the rest of this entry »

The second generation Opel Meriva, to be unveiled on March 4 at the Geneva Motor Show, will set the new standard for automotive versatility with a multitude of innovative features engineered to optimize the flexible use of space. The new Meriva introduces FlexDoors, innovative rear-hinged rear doors that facilitate access to its cabin, a premiere for a volume manufacturer. Moreover, the vehicle features vast interior storage space enhanced by a revolutionary concept of flexible center console, as well as the Opel-exclusive FlexFix system, an integrated rear bicycle carrier that is stored like a drawer under the luggage compartment. Designed and developed at Opel’s engineering center in Rüsselsheim, Germany, the new Meriva will be built in Zaragoza, Spain and is scheduled to go on sale this summer. Read the rest of this entry »

Dynamic and passionate driving has a new name at Opel: Insignia OPC. Its 2.8 V6 Turbo powerhouse with 239 kW/325 hp and a massive 435 Nm of torque makes it Opel’s most powerful production car of all time. The high performance Insignia sedans reach a top speed of 250 km/h (restricted) and race from zero to 100 km/h in a mere six seconds. The OPC variants of the Car of the Year 2009 will be available this fall in all three body styles – notchback, hatchback and Sports Tourer. Read the rest of this entry »

The new Opel Astra brings into the compact class its own interpretation of the brand’s award-winning design language of combining sculptural artistry with German precision first seen in the Insignia. Its strong sporty lines and elegant details add to a new handsome look.

The exterior of the new generation Astra, which debuts in September at the IAA in Frankfurt, boasts a strong cab-forward, fluid silhouette. Inside, high quality materials and a total re-think of the design add to the excitement of driving a compact car. Moreover, Opel has added innovative extras – higher quality materials, more storage, improved seats and safer bumpers – to give the Astra comfort, health and safety features not usually seen in the compact class.

“The design of the new Astra takes all the best Opel has to offer and delivers it to the compact class,” says Mark Adams, Vice President of Design for GM Europe. “We have built a five-door hatchback that is as beautiful as it is safe, comfortable and practical.” Read the rest of this entry »

The Insignia OPC Sports Tourer will hit dealerships later this year, but first it has to go through hell – the Green Hell of the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife, considered the toughest, most demanding and dangerous race track in the world.

Opel engineers insist that all vehicles in their OPC range complete a rigorous 10,000 kilometer testing around the 20.8 km Nordschleife of the Nürburgring, dubbed the Green Hell by legendary race car driver Jackie Stewart. Just a few days ago, the Insignia OPC sedan finished the challenge with no problems. Read the rest of this entry »