Success Story Continues: Opel has already produced more than 300,000 All-New Corsa

Opel Corsa GS Line Plus

New Corsa remains a guarantee of success for Opel: Latest generation of the classic small car has rolled off the production line in Zaragoza, Spain, around 300,000 times already, to be delivered to customers all over the world. Since the market launch of the Corsa in November 2019, the car has been a real winner and has taken various awards. 

The 300,000 unit of this model, a brand new white Opel Corsa GS Line Plus with a black roof, has just been delivered to its new owner at the Stellantis plant in Zaragoza, where it is manufactured exclusively worldwide

For example, the fully electric Opel Corsa-e was honoured with the “Golden Steering Wheel” as the most popular small car in Germany in 2020.

Opel Corsa-e was honoured with the “Golden Steering Wheel”

Elsewhere, the Corsa is also proving hugely popular with the customers.Smallest model in Opel’s product portfolio was not only the best-selling vehicle in the small car segment in Germany in 2020 – it is also leading the way in its segment this year. And, at times, the new Corsa was the best-selling car across all segments in the UK last year – a position it is currently holding this year too. 

Vauxhall Corsa

From Chile to Reunion and Morocco to South Africa: Opel Corsa is also in great demand outside of Europe. International Opel Corsa sales almost tripled in 2020 and things are continuing to improve at the beginning of 2021: Opel Corsa sales in the Middle East / Africa export regions, Latin America and Asia / Pacific have already more than doubled in the first two months of 2021 compared to the entire first quarter of the 2020. Opel Corsa also plays a central role in further expansion plans and will, among other things, herald the brand's comeback in Japan. This makes the Corsa an important pillar of Opel's export offensive.

Corsa is also key to Opel’s comprehensive electrification offensive. In the first two months of the year alone, more than 4,000 Corsa-e were sold. Private and fleet customers are equally enthusiastic about the suitability for everyday use.

Opel Corsa-e

“Corsa is a real success for the Opel brand and the new generation is continuing the long tradition of this model. With the Opel Corsa and the new Opel Mokka, which has just arrived at our dealers, we have two new convincing models on offer in very important segments. This will give us noticeable impetus,” said Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller.

Opel Corsa also gives customers access to technologies and assistance systems more often found in higher market segments. The top features include the adaptive, glare-free IntelliLux LED Matrix light that Opel offers for the first time in the small car segment. In addition, the small car bestseller comes with numerous advanced driver assistance systems. Thanks to the high-tech front camera, traffic sign recognition detects a wide range of information, such as LED signs. The speed limits saved in the system appear on the display. Forward Collision Alert with Automatic Emergency Braking and Pedestrian and Cyclist detection is active at speeds from 5 to 85 km/h and increases safety considerably, especially in dense city traffic. Adaptive Speed Control automatically adapts the gap between the car and the preceding vehicle by decelerating or accelerating. If the preceding car decelerates, the Corsa also slows down –even to a standstill, if necessary. If the preceding car gains speed again, the Corsa also accelerates up to the selected speed. Lane Keep Assist applies gradual corrective steering and a gentle nudge if the car leaves its lane unintentionally. Side Blind Spot Alert, the 180-degree camera and various parking assistants facilitate manoeuvring in the city.

Opel Corsa-e is compact, nimble and suitable for everyday use thanks to its range of up to 337 km according to WLTP 1. 50 kWh battery can be fast-charged to up to 80 per cent state-of-charge in 30 minutes. Opel Corsa-e is ready for all charging options – via wall box, high-speed charging or cable for household sockets – and an eight-year/160,000km warranty covers the battery.

Opel Corsa-e

[1] Range determined according to WLTP test procedure methodology (R (EC) No. 715/2007, R (EU) No. 2017/1151). The 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.

Serial production of PureTech three-cylinder petrol engine begins in Szentgotthárd

• With a production capacity of 350,000 engines per year, contributing to the high demand for gasoline engines
• EUR 38 million investment has transformed the Flex plant's modern production lines
• 27-year history of Opel's Szentgotthárd engine factory has entered a new chapter

Serial production of PureTech three-cylinder petrol engine begins in Szentgotthárd

Production of the PureTech three-cylinder petrol engine of the PSA Group has been solemnly launched in Szentgotthárd. From the headquarters of the PSA Group, Yann Vincent, Vice President of Manufacturing, has begun manufacturing new engines in the presence of French ambassador Pascale Adriani and factory workers.

With the launch of production in Szentgotthard, the number of PSA factories that help meet global demand has increased. PureTech engine family has been manufactured so far in France (Douvrin, Temery), Poland (Tychy), China (Xiangiang), Morocco (Kenitra) and India (Hosur).

More than five million engines have been made so far. Launch of the new capacity in St. Petersburg is in line with the growing market demand, which is largely due to the new Opel / Vauxhall models based on PSA platforms and technologies. This highly efficient engine family contributes to the reduction of CO2 emissions, reducing the consumption of PureTech petrol engines by 4% compared to the previous generation.

Opel's Szentgotthárd plant, which has a history of more than 27 years, has been converted with EUR 38 million to produce new engines. Most of the conversion was done with the factory's own people and resources, while previous engine variants were being manufactured. After the conversions, the plant will be able to continue producing previous resources in parallel with the new PureTech gasoline engines as long as it is needed.

“With the production of this new state-of-art engine, Szentgotthárd will become an important player in the PSA Group's manufacturing infrastructure, which is intended to supply all five of the company's car brands. Lading player in the Hungarian automotive industry and 27-year-old engine manufacturing have played a key role in achieving Opel's outstanding market position in Szentgotthárd. Smooth transformation and modernization of the factory is thanks to the colleagues and teams here. What's happening here today is good news for the PSA Group, our customers and our own employees, proving that Szentgotthárd has a sustainable future, ”said Yann Vincent, PSA Group Vice President, Manufacturing.

“With the launch of PureTech engines, we are opening a new chapter in the life of the Szentgotthard plant. We look forward to new tasks. We are proud to contribute to the production of state-of-the-art 1.2 petrol turbo engines to achieve low emission targets, ”said Grzegorz Buchal, plant manager at the launch of the new engine factory.

Name of Szentgotthárd coincided with the start of the modern Hungarian car industry and the Hungarian car production. In 1992, in what was then known as General Motors Hungary, the first Hungarian car, Opel Astra, was completed and the production of engines started, which is today a new chapter. Opel Szentgotthárd will also play an important role under the auspices of the new owner, the PSA Group, and the engine factory will continue its 27-year tradition.

Export Offensive Continues: Opel Announces Importer for Lebanon

Opel Astra Sports Tourer & Opel Astra

Opel is continuing its export offensive. The company has signed an agreement with the renowned A.N. Boukather Holding which will become the exclusive sales partner of the German brand for the Lebanese market.

A.N. Boukather Holding will be responsible for importing, selling and servicing Opel vehicles in Lebanon as of March 2018. A.N. Boukather Holding is a rich in tradition and professional partner, focused on delivering highest levels of customer services. An exclusive showroom displaying the Opel cars will be opened in July 2018 in Beirut, with further representation around the country to follow.

“Lebanon is a trendsetting market in the Middle East with significant potential for Opel. The Astra range as well as Opel Crossland X and Opel Grandland X are a perfect match. Being successful in this market is important for our further expansion in the Middle East and Africa,” says Bill Mott, Director International Operations, Opel Automobile GmbH.

Increasing sales significantly in markets outside of Europe is one of the key pillars of the PACE! company plan, which will pave the company’s way back to sustainable profitability. Opel targets doubling overseas sales by 2020. The goal is to generate 10 percent of the Opel sales volume outside of Europe by the mid-2020s. To reach this, the brand will further strengthen its presence in 15 export markets in Asia, Africa and South America where it is already present today and will enter more than 20 new export markets by 2022.

The announcement of an importer for Lebanon is the next step in the implementation process of the strategic plan. In recent months, the car manufacturer from Rüsselsheim has already announced the decision to assemble Opel vehicles for the African market in Namibia and named renowned new trading partners in South Africa, Morocco and Tunisia.