Fully Digital: All-New Opel Mokka First to Bring Future Opel Cockpit

• Fascinating: interior characterized by new Pure Panel with large displays
• Digital detox: displays provide most important information about driving situation

Next-generation Opel Mokka clearly and boldly shows what new Opel models of the 2020s will look like – pure, precise, reduced to the essentials. Opel Design Vice President, Mark Adams and his team have developed a philosophy for the characteristic German design language that combines clarity with bold expressiveness. Philosophy applies to the interior as well as the exterior of the next-generation Mokka. Driver now looks at a Pure Panel, a high-tech cockpit that is both fully digital and yet focussed – “detoxed”.

“With the new Opel Mokka, we bring the Opel Pure Panel to our customers for the first time. Large displays, seamlessly integrated into one horizontal information format, a minimal number of physical controls and clear detoxed digital information, all together create an optimised customer experience”, said Opel Design Vice President, Mark Adams.

Structure of the Opel Pure Panel, along widely stretched screens, makes a multitude of buttons and controls superfluous. It provides the latest digital technologies and the most important information for the driver, for example, management of the energy stored in the battery of the electric Opel Mokka, without any irritating visual stimuli. Minimal number of buttons and controls offers the right balance between digitalization and purely intuitive operation, without needing to navigate into sub-menus. Pure Panel in the Opel Mokka impressively shows how Opel uses innovative technologies to make life easier for customers.

Investments in the Rüsselsheim plant for the production of a third model

• Model of the brand DS Automobiles comes in addition to Opel Insignia and Astra successor
• Transformation of the plant into a future-proof location for the production of electrified vehicles thanks to the next generation of ultra-modern platform

Groupe PSA is investing in the future of the Rüsselsheim plant: A new model from the premium brand DS Automobiles will be produced in Hesse from summer 2021. Plant will therefore be producing three models from the end of next year: Because in addition to the Opel Insignia, which is already manufactured in Rüsselsheim, the next generation of the Opel Astra will follow at the end of 2021. Investments allow the Rüsselsheim plant to become a sustainable location for vehicle production, including electrified models - thanks to the localization of the Group's EMP2 platform.

“This strategic decision by Groupe PSA is a great sign of confidence in our main plant and our highly qualified employees. Investment will strengthen vehicle production at the Rüsselsheim location in the long term with an expanded product range. I am very happy to have this great news for our Rüsselsheim employees who deserve the addition of a third model, ”said Groupe PSA board member and Opel boss Michael Lohscheller.

Management and social partners will now be discussing the plan to develop the Rüsselsheim plant into a manufacturing facility for an expanded portfolio of electrified vehicles. This includes the intention to phase out the decline in production of the M1X transmission in the course of 2021. The transmission is currently being installed in the current Opel Astra, which will be launched in the next generation in Rüsselsheim next year.

“Plant in Rüsselsheim has demonstrated the ability to improve its competitiveness with a focus on performance and quality. It is a clear cornerstone of Groupe PSA's global vehicle manufacturing network. I trust that the management in Rüsselsheim will also face the future challenges facing the automotive industry, ”said Yann Vincent, Executive Vice President Manufacturing & Supply Chain at Groupe PSA.

Groupe PSA and Punch Powertrain Expand Strategic Partnership in Electrification

• Agreement to establish second Joint Venture
• New Joint Venture to design, manufacture and supply state of the art components and sub-systems for the future generation of the electrified transmission (e-DCT [1])
• e-DCT will equip Groupe PSA’s Mild Hybrid Electric (MHEV) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles and carmakers globally

Groupe PSA and Punch Powertrain have signed an agreement to establish a second Joint Venture and expand their strategic partnership in the field of electrification, to contribute to fight against climate change.

Punch Powertrain holds majority control in the new Joint 61/39 Venture, which will design, manufacture, and supply Punch Powertrain’s breakthrough DT2 [2] dual clutch transmission for the industry’s next generation of mild hybrid electric (MHEV) and plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) vehicles. The business will initially supply Groupe PSA’s global operations and aims to supply other vehicle manufacturers worldwide. The Joint Venture agreement is subject to customary regulatory approvals.

“Our clear manufacturing strategy is to have a vertical integration of components, particularly key technologies such as electrified powertrains. We have understood that the future is much more than reducing emissions. The challenge ahead of us is electrification at affordable cost, aligned with our raison d’être (Central Purpose)” said Olivier Bourges, Executive Vice President, Programs and Strategy and Member of the Managing Board.

“We are delighted to launch this second Joint Venture Agreement with Groupe PSA, Europe’s second largest car manufacturer,” said Jorge Solis, Chief Executive Officer, Punch Powertrain. “Over the past 45 years, Punch Powertrain has continuously pioneered innovative and cost-effective transmission technologies. This new venture will spearhead the industrialization of our next generation of transmissions for hybrid electric vehicles for Groupe PSA and other carmakers worldwide.”

Punch Powertrain DT2 48V and PHEV Dual Clutch Transmission

Punch Powertrain will contribute its DT2-related business unit, including world-class engineering, manufacturing, and support functions to the new entity which is expected to be operational by the third quarter 2020. Punch Powertrain will also transfer its current DT2- related facilities in Sint-Truiden, Belgium, and Eindhoven, the Netherlands. In turn, Groupe PSA will make a cash investment in the Joint Venture.

New Joint Venture, “Punch Powertrain PSA e-transmissions”, will supply Punch Powertrain’s innovative, ultra-efficient and compact automatic transmissions. Known as the DT2, this cost-efficient dual clutch transmission is the first in the industry to integrate an electric motor in a mild hybrid electric vehicle.

This latest Joint Venture will supply one of the industry’s first 48V solutions to equip mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEV), resulting in significant fuel savings and reduction in CO2 emissions, compared to regular internal combustion engine powered vehicles.

A high voltage variant of the DT2 is designed for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) and allows full electrically powered driving.

In April 2019 Groupe PSA and Punch Powertrain originally signed an agreement to establish their first Joint Venture “Punch Powertrain PSA e-transmissions assembly”. This Joint Venture will assemble the future generation of electrified transmissions (e-DCT) at Groupe PSA ’s facility in Metz, France, starting in 2022. This breakthrough transmission will equip Groupe PSA’s next generation of hybrid vehicles.

[1]  e-DCT ; electrified Dual Clutch Transmission

[2] Dual Clutch Transmission by Punch Powertrain, available in 48V, plug-in hybrid or conventional variants.