Opel Continues Growth on German Home Market in 2024

• Almost 175,000 new registrations in Germany – market share of 5.6%
• Light commercial vehicle sales up by 40%

Opel achieved strong results in Germany last year in a challenging economic environment: According to preliminary internal figures, almost 175,000 cars and light commercial vehicles of the brand with the Blitz were registered over the course of the last 12 months. This represents an increase of 6.4% compared to 2023. The market share increased to 5.6% (2023: 5.3% ).

Opel light commercial vehicles were an important driver of growth. With more than 26,000 units of the Combo, Vivaro and Movano sold, the 2023 results were exceeded by an impressive 40%. The market share in the light commercial vehicle segment was up significantly by more than two percentage points to 9.1%. In addition, Opel also increased its passenger car sales last year. According to the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), 147,833 new registrations ensured a passenger car market share of 5.2 % (2023: 5.1%).

“We achieved very good results on our important German home market in 2024. This was primarily due to our attractive portfolio of light commercial vehicles and our bestselling Astra. This confirms our course and gives us further tailwind for a confident start to 2025 – with the new Mokka, the new family-friendly Frontera and the Grandland, our new top-of-the-line SUV,” said Patrick Dinger, head of Opel Germany.

Vauxhall Astra Crowned ‘Best Family Car’ at 2024 Business Car Awards

• Vauxhall wins two awards at the 2024 Business Car Awards
• Vauxhall Astra named ‘Best Family Car’ for the third year running
• Vauxhall also wins the ‘Best Fleet Website’ award for the second time
• Judges praised the Astra’s eye-catching design, low running costs and high equipment levels
• Available as the fully electric Astra Electric with a range of up to 258 miles (WLTP)
• By the end of 2024, all Vauxhall cars and vans will be available with a fully electric version

Vauxhall Astra has been named ‘Best Family Car’ at the 2024 Business Car Awards, for the third year in a row. Vauxhall was also awarded with the ‘Best Fleet Website’ prize at the ceremony held in London last night.

The annual Business Car Awards recognise and reward excellence in the automotive fleet sector, highlighting innovation and expertise amongst suppliers and fleet operators. The Vauxhall Astra was once again praised by judges for its low running costs and eye-catching design.

Available as a hatch or Sports Tourer estate, with petrol, plug-in hybrid and fully electric options, the Astra caters for a wide variety of needs. With zero-emissions-in-use, the Astra Electric qualifies for a Benefit-in-Kind rate of just 2% (2024/25), making it particularly well suited to both fleet and business users. The Astra Sports Tourer Electric is one of the few all-electric estate cars available on the market, providing greater choice and practicality to customers and fleet operators.

Martyn Collins, Editor, Business Car, said: “For the third year in a row, Vauxhall’s Astra is again our favourite family car. Not many rivals can offer the version and body style options of the Astra. Its design remains eye-catching and attractive, with low running costs, and all are well-equipped.”

Vauxhall’s website was praised for its vibrant design and clarity for potential fleet customers, making it simple and accessible for decision makers wanting to find out more about how the brand can meet their needs.

Martyn Collins commented: “Vauxhall’s bright website design was praised by our editorial team. In our opinion, it’s the best all-round website, as we felt it had an exceptional fleet focus. As such, it wins our Best Fleet Website accolade again for 2024.”

James Taylor, Managing Director, Vauxhall, said: “Vauxhall’s continued success at the Business Car Awards, with the Astra being named Best Family Car for the third year in a row, demonstrates that our model line-up is as appealing as ever. It’s also rewarding to see the quality of our website recognised by the judges once again. Whether it’s fleet or private buyers, Vauxhall is committed to driving Britain towards an electric future and supporting those who want to make the switch.”

By the end of this year, Vauxhall will offer a fully electric version of every car and van in its line-up. Vauxhall was the UK’s best-selling electric van manufacturer in 2023 and is the leading electric car brand year-to-date across retail and Motability channels combined.

Hydrogen newcomer: Opel Movano HYDROGEN celebrates world premiere at IAA Transportation

• Efficient and fast: Refill with hydrogen for over 500 kilometres range (WLTP 1) in less than five minutes
• All electric: Opel Combo Electric and Opel Rocks Electric with KARGO kit also on display
• Strong portfolio: Xavier Peugeot and Opel Chief Executive Officer Florian Huettl present innovative Pro One and Opel solutions

“Globally, we sold over 125,000 light commercial vehicles last year and we were able to substantially grow our battery-electric LCV sales by 41 percent. We want to continue this success in our LCV business. To do so, we are presenting new, trend-setting products for our customers here in Hanover,” said Opel CEO Florian Huettl at the IAA Transportation today while teasing the imminent world premiere of the Opel Movano HYDROGEN. At the joint Stellantis Pro One booth C70 in Hall 13, Xavier Peugeot, Senior Vice President Stellantis Commercial Vehicles Business Unit, and Florian Huettl presented the strong commercial vehicle portfolio of Stellantis and the innovative newcomers of the Opel brand.

Clever, efficient, timesaving: New Opel Movano HYDROGEN

The highlight of the Opel line-up was the Opel Movano HYDROGEN. “For the first time, we will offer the largest member of the Opel LCV family as a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle,” said Huettl. “Back in 2021, we launched the Opel Vivaro HYDROGEN, the first hydrogen transporter from a vehicle manufacturer. Today, with the introduction of the Movano HYDROGEN, we are now taking the next step and creating an even stronger offer.”

With its combination of hydrogen fuel cell drive and plug-in battery, the new Opel Movano HYDROGEN can travel over 500 kilometres (WLTP 1) and can be refuelled with hydrogen in under 5 minutes. This is an ideal solution for customers who need to drive long distances with zero local emissions and not lose time refuelling. The electric motor offers 110 kW (150 hp) of power and a maximum torque of 410 Newton meters. The 11 kWh lithium-ion battery provides support when starting or accelerating. Another major advantage of the system: braking energy can be recuperated and fed into the battery as electricity via the electric motor working as a generator.

“Obviously, our newcomer inherits all the virtues of its battery-electric and diesel siblings.” This includes a wide range of electronic “helpers” that put the Opel Movano at the forefront of its segment. It is also one of the first vehicles in its class to achieve level 2 assisted driving and impresses with a loading volume of up to 17 cubic metres – and thus makes no comprises in terms of everyday functionality regardless of the drivetrain. “The new Movano has everything it needs to meet the demands of our customers – even if they need to transport a Rocks Electric,” said Huettl while simultaneously revealing the next member of Opel’s IAA Transportation line-up.

Battery-electric light motor vehicle as a micro-LCV: Opel Rocks Electric

Opel Rocks Electric had a very special appearance in Hanover. The smallest vehicle in the Opel portfolio, which young people aged 15 and over can drive in Germany, was in the hold of the new Movano HYDROGEN – equipped with the practical KARGO kit. The battery-electric light motor vehicle with ultra-compact dimensions of 2.41 x 1.39 x 1.52 metres (length x width x height) and the KARGO kit has additional modularly divisible loading volume available. This turns the two-seater into a practical delivery vehicle in no time.

Transporter with passenger car design and technologies: Opel Combo Electric

The third member of Opel’s IAA Transportation also proposes a convincing offer. The new Opel Combo Electric impressively demonstrates how Opel brings passenger car innovations onto the LCV market. The new edition of the compact Opel LCV is instantly recognisable and unmistakable, with a newly designed front and the characteristic Opel Vizor brand face. In addition to all the proven qualities of the previous version, the new Combo can illuminate the road ahead for the first time with the glare-free IntelliLux Matrix Light. This makes the compact van the first to bring state-of-the-art adaptive lighting technology to this market segment. The battery-electric vehicle, which can be ordered from €31,250 excl. VAT in Germany, now offers a locally emissions-free range of up to 354 kilometres (WLTP 2), around 80 kilometres more than its predecessor. Together with the Vivaro Electric, the fourth member of the Opel LCV family, the brand can offer a strong all-electric solution for almost any user profile.

The IAA Transportation 2024 in Hannover runs until Sunday, September 22 and is open to visitors daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

[1] Provisional range values determined according to WLTP test procedure methodology (R (EC) No. 715/2007, R (EU) No. 2017/1151). Actual range can vary under everyday conditions and depends on various factors, in particular on personal driving style, route characteristics, outside temperature, use of heating and air conditioning and thermal preconditioning. Vehicle not yet available.

[2] Range values determined according to WLTP test procedure methodology (R (EC) No. 715/2007, R (EU) No. 2017/1151). Actual range can vary under everyday conditions and depends on various factors, in particular on personal driving style, route characteristics, outside temperature, use of heating and air conditioning and thermal preconditioning.

Opel Presents Eye-Catching Opel Corsa Rally Electric in Gamescom Look

• Trade fair highlight: Unique Opel Corsa Rally Electric on display until Sunday, August 25 at Gamescom in Cologne in Hall 10.1, stand B031
• Electrifying: Rapid Opel rally car demonstrates fascination of electric rallying
• ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup as pioneer: World’s first all-electric one-make rally cup is now in its fourth season

Emotional, all-electric and full of energy – this is the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSe” and the Opel Corsa Rally Electric. How the rapid electric car combines locally emissions-free rallying with show character is demonstrated on rally special stages, and now also at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany. At the world's largest trade fair for computer and video games as well as consumer electronics, the Opel Corsa Rally Electric is an extraordinary eye-catcher. It can be admired in a special “Gamescom look” at the ADAC stand B031 in Hall 10.1.

Coloured entirely in yellow, black and white, Opel Corsa Rally Electric is once again a unique show car. Bright yellow wheels and brake calipers increase the wow effect and make the fully electric rally car an absolute eye-catcher. The creatives at @blackfishgraphics are responsible for the unmistakable design.

The “Gamescom Special Edition” demonstrates what is possible: progressive design paired with production technology and state-of-the-art motorsport components. Opel Corsa Rally Electric thus continues Opel's pioneering achievements. With the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup “powered by GSe”, the manufacturer and the automobile club have launched the world's first electric one-make rally cup and successfully established it in the rally scene. The international cup is currently in its fourth season and inspires fans and spectators as much as the participants.

Anyone who wants to experience the “Gamescom Opel Corsa Rally Electric” live can do so until Sunday, August 25. The trade fair is open to visitors daily until 8 p.m.

Opel Celebrates “60 Years of Opel Design Studio”

• First of its kind: Advanced Studio started its creative work at Opel in 1964
• Visionary concept cars: From 1965 Opel Experimental GT to 2023 Opel Experimental
• Two reasons to celebrate: “125 years of automotive production at Opel” and “60 Years Design Center”

1965 Opel Experimental GT

2024 is an extraordinary anniversary year for Opel: The German brand has been producing automobiles for 125 years. Since 1899, the carmaker has made mobility affordable for millions of people – and at the same time continuously inspired the public with innovative models. Today, the Blitz emblem stands for the progressive electrification as well as the emotional, electrifying side of the brand. The design is primarily responsible for how a car can delight at first glance. And here Opel laid the pioneering foundations exactly 60 years ago: in 1964, Opel Design Studio in Rüsselsheim, the first automobile design centre of its kind in Europe, was opened. Since then, it has not only been responsible for the constantly evolving design philosophy of the Opel production models. The designers have also created groundbreaking concept vehicles that provide a glimpse of the brand's future – from the legendary Opel Experimental GT in 1965 to the most recent breathtaking Opel Experimental brand study, which had its sensational world premiere last year. And so, on Saturday, June 8, 2024, Opel celebrated two anniversaries with customers, employees and other high-ranking guests: 125 years of automobile production at Opel and 60 years of Opel Design Center.

2023 Opel Experimental

“Our production models delight our customers with their Bold and Pure design. From Experimental GT, Opel has revealed iconic concepts that have shown our automotive future, with Opel Design Center as the home of this creativity. Our designers have been bringing automotive dreams to life and making them real for a wide audience for six decades now,” said Mark Adams, Vice President Design of Opel/Vauxhall.

Mark Adams, Vice President Design of Opel/Vauxhall

Visionary Design Center: Three design departments under one roof

1964 was a year of Olympic Games – the XI Winter Games were opened in Innsbruck, and just a few months later, the Olympic flame burned at the XVIII Summer Games in Tokyo. And Rüsselsheim also extended an invitation to a special celebration. For the first time, guests were able to visit the new Opel Design Studio in building N10. For many of them it was also the last time, because after the grand opening, the futuristic-looking facilities were again closed to the public. From June 1964, forms, colours and functions of the brand’s cars were developed and decided here. “It’s easier to get into Fort Knox than into N10,” said an insider back then.

 Opel Design Studio (1964)

The formal opening of the building marked a milestone in European automotive history. It was the largest design studio owned by an automaker in Europe. Until then, most European car manufacturers often commissioned external specialists for the development of new concept cars. Northern Italy, in particular the area around the capital of the Piedmont region, Turin, was regarded as the mecca of automobile design. Pietro Frua, Guiseppe “Nuccio” Bertone and Pininfarina had all set up their coachbuilding enterprises between the Alps and the Apennines. They were responsible for the design of many of the car manufacturers’ new models and concepts.

In Rüsselsheim, three new department were housed in the building known as N10. The Interior Design department determined the forms and materials inside the car, and designed seats, instrument panels and trim panelling. The second department was concerned with bodywork. It worked on the face, the silhouette and the proportions of the car, giving each model its own character. While the bundling and emphasis on design work was a novelty in the European automotive industry, the third department at N10 was simply tasked with pioneering work. For the first time in Europe, Opel had created a team of high-calibre designers who were now reaching out beyond the confines of daily business and the further development of familiar model series to focus their sights much further into the future. While others at best developed the shape of a new body, in Rüsselsheim thought was being put into design language and emotions. Advanced Design dedicated its work primarily to completely new concepts for automobiles – the ideas for mobility and the car customers of the future being central.

First concept car from a European manufacturer: Opel Experimental GT

To be at the forefront of future development, Opel built its own Advanced Studio as an integral part of its operation. In 1965, barely one year after work began at N10, the first project of this department of thinkers and visionaries around Erhard Schnell was exhibited at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA): the Opel Experimental GT, the first completely new concept car developed by a European manufacturer. For the first time a reputable car manufacturer in Europe had developed a vehicle whose only purpose was to demonstrate the possibilities of new, creative forms. At no stage during its development was it planned as a series production vehicle.

IAA 1965

But things turned out differently: the feedback from the media and the public for the high-performance study with the characteristic “Coke Bottle Shape” was overwhelming. One would never have expected such an extravagant sports car from Opel. And thus, the decision was quickly made to bring the Opel GT into series production. Just three years after the initial spark at the IAA, the GT prototype matured into a production car in record time.

The visionary approach of the Opel Design Studio was unique in Europe in the 1960s. It quickly turned into a European school for automobile design that had a magical attraction for the best in the industry. The studio’s personnel list from the past reads like a Who’s Who of the automotive design world: Anatole Lapine, Erhard Schnell, George Gallion, Charles M. ‘Chuck’ Jordan, Herbert Killmer, Chris Bangle, Murat Nasr and Hideo Kodama. And more than a few made their way to other manufacturers during their career after other brands had also established their own design studios years later. Many ideas, forms and design statements in automobiles originated in Rüsselsheim and reach back into the 1960s.

Traditionally innovative: Exciting concepts including recent Opel Experimental

The list of design icons created by the Opel Advanced Design Studio in these 60 years can hardly be topped in its diversity. Opel Experimental GT was quickly followed by Opel CD, a streamlined coupé with a V8 engine in 1969, GT2 with sliding doors in 1975 and the extremely aerodynamically optimised Tech1, whose drag coefficient of 0.235 was an absolute sensation in the early 1980s.

1969 Opel CD

1977 Opel GT2

1981 Opel Tech1

2013 Opel Monza Concept

Opel Monza Concept, presented in 2013, already provided a first taste of the bold and pure design language of the current Opel design, for which the team led by Vice President Design Mark Adams was responsible. In 2018, Opel GT X Experimental was the first study to show the future Opel Vizor – which shortly afterwards celebrated its premiere in a series model as Opel Mokka. To this day the Vizor is the central element of the front design across the entire Opel portfolio. In addition, Pure Panel, which offers wide touchscreens and reduces all other control elements to the essentials, was also seen for the first time – today it too can be experienced in every new series production Opel.

2018 Opel GT X Experimental 

Advanced Design delivered its most recent “hit” with the breathtaking Opel Experimental. The study presented last year provides a glimpse of the future of the brand. With impressive proportions, intelligent aerodynamic solutions, highly efficient use of space as well as the latest lighting technology and electrochromic materials, the battery-electric Experimental represents Opel's resource-saving automotive future. At the same time, 60 years after opening the first design centre of a manufacturer in Europe, the designers at Opel are already working on automotive designs for the coming decades – exciting ideas and concepts guaranteed!

11. Paul Pietsch Classic: Legendary Opel coupés and electrified Opel Astra Sports Tourer attract attention

•   125 years of automobile manufacturing at Opel: Manufacturer in the anniversary year with Opel Admiral, Kadett GT/E, Monza and Calibra on a big Black Forest tour
• “Forever forward since 1899”: Current Opel Astra Sports Tourer plug-in hybrid leads the field

This year's Paul Pietsch Classic , which came to a close on Saturday afternoon on the market square in Offenburg, Baden, was varied in every respect. Beforehand, the participants had covered many kilometers in their shiny vintage cars in changeable weather through picturesque villages, along scenic valleys, and over the heights of the Black Forest. Always in the thick of it: Opel Classic with real icons of the past decades. To mark the anniversary of "125 years of automobile manufacturing at Opel," the brand drove up with classics from the 1960s to 1990s, including the Admiral V8, Kadett GT/E, Monza, and the "aerodynamics world champion" Calibra. True to the anniversary motto "Forever forward since 1899," a current model was also present - in a prominent position. The highly efficient, electrified Opel Astra Sports Tourer plug-in hybrid was used as the lead vehicle on both days of the rally.

"Paul Pietsch Classic is an unforgettable experience every year. Even the odd rain shower cannot harm the beauty of this region and the classic cars that are on the road here," says Opel Classic manager Leif Rohwedder, who conquered the stages together with Motor Klassik editor Peter Michaely in a bright yellow Opel Calibra 4x4 2.0i 16V, built in 1990, looking back on the past two days.

From Offenburg through Black Forest: Sporty Opel classics inspire

111 teams started on Friday to complete the scenic circuit through the Black Forest. From Offenburg, the route first led towards Kaiserstuhl, then turned through the Elztal and went via Schramberg and Schiltach back to Offenburg. On day 2, the regularity rally also lived up to the motto of its namesake Paul Pietsch - "For the love of motorsport" - and his connection to his homeland. Here, the participants passed landmarks such as Appenweiher, Sasbach, Gaggenau and the Bühler Höhe - exactly the right terrain for the streamlined, 110 kW (150 hp) Calibra sports coupe.

But the crews of the other Opel Classic vehicles also showed what their style icons can do. For example, auto motor und sport editor-in-chief Birgit Priemer and former editor-in-chief Bernd Ostmann mixed up the field in a 1977 Opel Kadett GT/E specially designed for sporting use. In addition to the sporting ambitions, the enjoyment factor was not neglected. "It is always impressive how much positive attention the Opel brand attracts from visitors to the Paul Pietsch Classic. Many people still have fond memories of Opel Kadett GT/E. It sparks a lot of passion, even at the side of the track," says Birgit Priemer, looking back on the experience.

Current compact class bestseller from Rüsselsheim also impressed with its dynamism and efficiency: the organizers of Paul Pietsch Classic were able to make themselves comfortable in an Opel Astra Sports Tourer plug-in hybrid with 133 kW (180 hp) system output and a powerful 250 Newton meters of torque. Electrified station wagon led the field - responsibly and resource-efficiently with a purely electric and thus locally emission-free range of up to 65 kilometers according to WLTP 2 (EAER City according to WLTP 2 : 65-66 km).

[1] Values ​​of a vehicle depend not only on efficient use of fuel by vehicle, but are also influenced by driving behavior and other non-technical factors.

[2] Stated range was determined using the WLTP test procedures (Regulation (EC) No. 715/2007 and Regulation (EU) No. 2017/1151). Actual range may vary under everyday conditions and depends on various factors, in particular personal driving style, route conditions, outside temperature, use of heating and air conditioning, and thermal preconditioning.

Strong Performance in May: Opel Increases New Registrations in Germany by 33%

• Combined passenger car and light commercial vehicle market share of 6.0%
• Registrations of light commercial vehicles up by 65%
• 29.3% increase in passenger car registrations
• Opel Astra registrations in May at their highest for year

Opel achieved strong results in its German home market in May: According to internal data, the combined market share for passenger cars and Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) rose to around 6.0% (2023: 4.3%). Around 15,500 new registrations ensured growth of 33 per cent compared to same month of 2023.

In terms of LCV registrations, Opel recorded an increase of 65% with a segment market share of 9.0% (2023: 5.5%). 13,455 new passenger car registrations represented strong growth of 29.3%. Market share in passenger car segment was 5.7% (2023: 4.2%).

Opel Astra had a particularly successful month. With more than 5,300 new registrations, bestseller from Rüsselsheim achieved an annual high, making it most sought-after Opel model. Compared to last year, new registrations more than tripled. Opel Corsa also performed better than in the same month of 2023 with more than 3,300 new registrations.

“Opel delivered another strong result in May. Compared to previous year, we have grown significantly in terms of volume and market share. This proves that Opel has an excellent, innovative product range in all relevant segments. Above all, our Opel Astra, which impressively remains on road to success with an annual high in registrations,” said Head of Opel Germany Patrick Dinger.

Vauxhall Astra wins ‘Best Medium Car’ at 2024 Business Motoring Awards

• Vauxhall Astra named ‘Best Medium Car’ at 2024 Business Motoring Awards.
• Judges praised Astra’s driving experience, low ownership costs and build quality
• Available as fully electric Vauxhall Astra Electric with a range of up to 258 miles (WLTP)
• Customers can also choose from petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains

Vauxhall Astra has been named ‘Best Medium Car’ at 2024 Business Motoring Awards.

Business Motoring Awards are now in their tenth year and continue to provide a valuable spotlight on the market leaders in SME sector. Awards are judged by an independent panel of automotive experts and members of  Business Motoring editorial team, who praised Astra’s driving experience, low ownership costs and impressive build quality.

Available as a hatch or Sports Tourer estate, with petrol, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric variants, Vauxhall Astra caters for a wide range of drivers. With zero-emissions-in-use, the Astra Electric qualifies for a Benefit-in-Kind rate of just 2% (2023/24), making it particularly well suited to both fleet and business users.

Chris Wright, Editor, Business Motoring, said: “Latest Astra is a great to drive as ever but more importantly, brand has worked hard to bring down ownership costs so car is now even more accessible. Build quality is also excellent and whole package feels well thought out.”

James Taylor, Managing Director, Vauxhall, said: “Vauxhall’s success at Business Motoring Awards is proof that Astra is a more attractive proposition than ever. With low running costs and a wide range of powertrains to choose from, including fully electric Astra Electric, Astra is an ideal choice for businesses of all sizes.”

Astra Electric is powered by Vauxhall’s next-generation 54kWh battery and a 156hp electric motor. It achieves impressive efficiency of 4.2 miles per kWh, providing up to 258 miles of range (WLTP). 

Vauxhall will offer a fully electric version of every model in its line-up by end of 2024.

Stellantis reveals STLA Medium Platform with State-of-the-Art features including Best-in-Class Range of 700 kilometers

• STLA Medium is designed to meet customer expectations on what matters most to them: Best-in-class range of more than 700 km (435 miles), charging time, performance, efficiency, affordability, driving pleasure  
• STLA Medium is the first of four global BEV platforms to be launched less than two years after EV Day presentation in July 2021
• Flexibility of STLA Medium enables one platform to host several brands’ passenger cars, crossovers and SUVs in C and D segments – the heart of the global vehicle market
• STLA Medium will be installed in several plants to support bold electrification ambition, starting with Europe

Stellantis N.V. unveiled STLA Medium, a global BEV-by-design platform with state-of-the-art features including best-in-class range of 700 kilometers (435 miles), energy efficiency, embedded power and charging power.

STLA Medium platform offers long range combined with designed-in flexibility to host a variety of vehicles and propulsion configurations in the heart of the market, the C- and D-segments, which accounted for 35 million sales in 2022 – nearly half the 78.5 million vehicles sold globally that year. Today, Stellantis brands offer 26 vehicle nameplates in those segments on a variety of platforms. Up to two million vehicles per year can be built on the STLA Medium platform in several plants across the world, starting in Europe this year.

“What we see today is the product of just over two years of no-compromise innovation to deliver clean, safe and affordable mobility, supported by our €30 billion investment in electrification and software through 2025,” said Carlos Tavares, Stellantis CEO. “The STLA Medium platform demonstrates the power of the global Stellantis technical community, delivering products that are hyper-focused on our customers and rewriting long-held assumptions of transportation as we drive for carbon net zero by 2038.”

STLA Medium is the first of four global BEV platforms, outlined on EV Day 2021, that underpin the Company’s future products and are key to achieving the bold targets of the Stellantis Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan, including reaching a 100% passenger car battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales mix in Europe and a 50% passenger car and light-duty truck BEV sales mix in the United States by 2030. Dare Forward 2030 is led by deep emission cuts to slash CO2 in half by 2030, benchmarking the 2021 metrics, and achieve carbon net zero by 2038, with single-digit percentage compensation of the remaining emissions.

STLA Medium Is Fitted to Exceed Customer Expectations

BEV-by-design STLA Medium platform delivers best-in-class range of more than 700 km (435 miles) with a Performance pack, while a Standard pack is rated at more than 500 km (310 miles) on the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP). With a useful energy up to 98 kilowatt-hours (kWh), STLA Medium is best in class in embedded energy between the wheels.

STLA Medium, which uses a 400-volt electric architecture, will deliver best-in-class energy efficiency and charging time and connectivity to a charging and services ecosystem that enhances every journey. Depending on the application, consumption can be less than 14 kWh per 100 km, which is best in class in energy efficiency. Owners will be able to take their battery from 20% to 80% charge in 27 minutes, a rate of 2.4 kWh per minute.

Vehicles based on STLA Medium will be sold globally and be available with front-drive propulsion or all-wheel drive with the addition of a second electric drive module at the rear, with BEV power output range from 160 kW to 285 kW.

Body styles will include passenger cars, crossovers and SUVs. The flexibility of STLA Medium gives Stellantis designers the freedom to create vehicles with:

• A wheelbase that can range between 2,700-2,900 millimeters
• An overall length range of 4.3-4.9 meters
• Ground clearance of more than 220 mm to ensure off-road capability and performance
• Wheels up to 750 mm in diameter, a key attribute for the platform design

Stellantis engineering and manufacturing experts focused on making installation of the modular, high-energy density single-layer battery pack at the assembly plant as efficient as possible, maximizing space inside the vehicle and improving ride and handling with a low center of gravity. Platform components, such as the cabin heating/cooling system, steering, braking assist and propulsion are designed to minimize energy consumption. Those efforts combine with extensive use of lightweight and rigid materials to optimize vehicle range and deliver exemplary ride and handling performance.

STLA Medium will deliver best-in-class battery packaging cost that also enhances production volumes. The perimeter dimensions of the battery pack are constant among the stored energy options, with common tray and cooling designs.

Future-Proof Platforms

The STLA platform family (Small/Medium/Large/Frame) is engineered to be future proof – modular and inherently flexible in wheelbase, width, overhang, ride height and suspension design. The capabilities and performance of STLA based vehicles will adapt and improve over the years with the implementation of the STLA Brain architecture, STLA SmartCockpit and STLA AutoDrive platforms – enabling over-the-air updates to software and enhanced hardware.

The engineered-in flexibility includes propulsion – front-drive, rear-drive, all-wheel drive and multi-energy – covered by a family of three, scalable electric drive modules (EDMs).

The platforms are designed with provisions for future battery chemistries, including nickel- and cobalt-free and solid-state batteries. This enables Stellantis brands to tailor vehicle capabilities for the ideal balance of cost and performance.

Opel unveils New Iconic ‘Blitz’ Emblem

• Bold: Sharpened, confident new ‘Blitz’
• Central: ‘Blitz’ forms key element of Opel Compass
• Prominent: New emblem to feature at the IAA Mobility in Munich

Today, Opel has revealed a new interpretation of its iconic emblem, the ‘Blitz’, which will feature on production vehicles as early as 2024. It will continue to form a central element of the Opel Compass, one of the main features of the Rüsselsheim-based carmaker’s exciting and critically acclaimed design philosophy, while simultaneously continuing to sit proudly at the centre of the Opel Vizor brand face. The lightning bolt – or ‘Blitz’ in German – is closely associated with electricity and is the ideal emblem to symbolise Opel’s approach to the era of electromobility.

“Our ‘Blitz’ is more relevant than ever before. It not only symbolises our commitment to the democratization of innovation and mobility but also conveys our commitment to becoming a fully electric brand in Europe by 2028. This year, we will already have 15 electrified models in our portfolio and can proudly say that Opel is electric,” said Opel CEO Florian Huettl.

“The ‘Blitz’ is the icon for our Bold and Pure philosophy. The sharpened, confident new ‘Blitz’, intersects the pure supporting ring, giving our iconic emblem a progressive, modern look. It is positioned proudly at the centre of our compass, which is our key graphic design principle. The compass is the backbone of our front, rear and interior design elements,” said Mark Adams, Vice President design.

The German carmaker will gradually roll out the new ‘Blitz’ across its product portfolio in the coming years with the first production vehicle set to sport the new look in 2024. However, Opel CEO Florian Huettl announced that the new emblem will feature prominently this year already. “The IAA Mobility is one of the biggest motor shows in the world and therefore the perfect location to proudly introduce a large, international audience to our new ‘Blitz’. Furthermore, we also have a surprise planned. Visitors of our presence in Munich will be thrilled,” he said.