Opel & Vauxhall Vivaro-e Tops Sales Charts in Germany and United Kingdom

• Opel Vivaro-e bestselling electric van in its segment in Germany in first quarter
• Vauxhall Vivaro-e bestselling e-LCV overall in UK in first quarter
• Significant market share growth in both home markets

Vivaro-e is continuing to be hugely popular with customers looking for an emissions-free electric commercial vehicle. Opel Vivaro-e was the bestselling medium electric van in Germany in the first quarter of 2022. Its sales helped Opel to grow its market share in the increasingly important electric light commercial vehicle market to almost 19% in the first three months of the year. In the UK, the Vauxhall Vivaro-e was the best-selling e-LCV in March and remains the overall highest-selling e-LCV for the year. Year-on-year, Vauxhall has seen its UK e-LCV market share grow from 19% to 22.7%. Opel and Vauxhall are part of a small group of manufacturers already able to offer electric variants across the entire LCV portfolio.

“Electric light commercial vehicle segment is a rapidly growing and vitally important sector for the industry. As more businesses look to reduce their running costs and emissions, e-LCV sales will keep growing in the future. It’s fantastic to see the award-winning Vivaro-e leading the way and shows that offering battery-electric models like the Combo-e, Vivaro-e and Movano-e at an early stage was the right choice to make,” said Opel CEO Uwe Hochgeschurtz.

With a WLTP range of up to 328 kilometres1and a maximum payload of up to 1,163 kilogrammes, the Vivaro-e is at the forefront of Opel’s and Vauxhall’s commitment to electrification, as the German and British brand continue their electric vehicle expansion with the goal of offering an electrified variant of every model by 2024, and to offer only fully electric cars and vans in Europe by 2028.

In addition, Opel is already preparing the next step in the success of the Vivaro by pushing ahead with production of the Vivaro-e HYDROGEN. It is based on the existing battery electric Opel Vivaro-e, the “2021 International Van of the Year”. With full tanks of hydrogen, the driving range is more than 400 kilometres (WLTP1). 45 kW fuel cell is capable of generating enough power for continuous highway driving. It takes only three minutes to refuel with hydrogen – about the same time needed to fill up a conventional diesel or petrol vehicle. Thanks to smart packaging, Vivaro-e HYDROGEN demands no compromises on space compared to the combustion engine versions, offering up to 5.3 or 6.1 cubic metres of cargo volume. Fuel cell electric LCV is available in lengths M and L (4.95 and 5.30 metres) with up to 1,000 kilogrammes of payload.

[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.

Opel shows compact class at the 9th Bodensee Klassik

• After 60 years on an anniversary tour: Opel Kadett A in the rally field
• Sonorous names: "Kulläng" Rallye-Kadett, Kadett GT/E and Kadett GSi from ex-Chancellor Schmidt also at the start
• Prominent crew: actress Gesine Cukrowski and Olympic champion André Lange in Opel vintage cars
• State-of-the-art support: Rally organizers drive all-new Opel Astra

Opel shows at this year's Bodensee Klassik compact class! For the 9th edition of the varied classic rally, legendary Opel Kadett models of different generations will be at the start from May 5th to 7th . At the same time, with the new Astra , which is celebrating its dealer premiere on Opel Day on May 7th, Opel is demonstrating how the manufacturer continues to bring innovations to the compact segment, making them affordable for everyone. Actress Gesine Cukrowski and four-time Olympic bobsleigh champion André Lange are also convinced of this. Closely associated with the brand for many years, they take part as prominent Opel drivers in the Rallye Kadett of former rally ace Anders Kulläng at the vintage car outing in the Lake Constance region.

Tour: New routes with proven scenic beauty

Thrilling, varied and beautiful – these are the characteristics that have characterized the Bodensee Klassik and its routes since the start in 2012. And that also applies to the most recent edition. It starts on Thursday afternoon, May 5th, with the “Prologue Bodenseeblick”. Start and finish this time is the city center of Friedrichshafen. On Friday, May 6th, the field of participants will embark on the "Swabian Alb Tour". Historical and scenic highlights will be Salem Castle and the beautiful hinterland of Lake Constance in the direction of Sigmaringen. After the third stage, which takes place on Saturday, May 7th, via the Oberjoch in the "Ostallgäu" to Kempten and Wangen, the rally drivers and their co-drivers will have covered a total of around 550 kilometers when they return to Friedrichshafen and will be enriched by unforgettable experiences .

Opel rally classics: Kadett legends from generation A to E

Opel Kadett A

This is ensured in particular by the classics, in which the participants master the individual stages. Opel shows here what real compact class means! The oldest Opel at the start is the Kadett A , which rolled off the assembly line for the first time 60 years ago. Post-war Kadett was a prime example of lightweight construction at the time, weighing 670 kilograms. One-litre, short-stroke engine impressed the contemporary testers with its spontaneous power delivery, good torque and elasticity. After a short time it became clear that the success of the Kadett A exceeded all expectations and the compact Opel was rightly advertised with the slogan "A car without problems". By the time production ended in August 1965, the Kadett A had sold a total of 649,512 buyers.

Opel Kadett B Rallye

Actress Gesine Cukrowski and the four-time bobsleigh Olympic champion André Lange are completing the Bodensee Klassik in a very special example of the Kadett B generation. You will pilot the Rallye Kadett , driven by Swedish rally ace Anders Kulläng and his co-driver Bruno Berglund in the 1970s. Equipped with the engine of the "big brother" Rekord Sprint, a special rear axle, roll cage and additional instruments, it is a perfect basis, not only for motorsport use.

Opel Kadett C GT/E

Opel Kadett GT /E from 1977 and a Kadett GSi from 1991 ensure further Opel brilliance on the classic tour Make motorsport particularly easy. The competition vehicle, which was consistently trimmed for sporty use, still inspires enthusiasts today with its equipment from the two-liter engine with electronic fuel injection to the ZF five-speed gearbox and limited-slip differential to the sporty tuned and reinforced chassis. Eye-catching white and yellow paintwork was standard.

"Last, but not least", a "state-supporting" example of the last Opel Kadett generation completes the starting field: Metallic-black painted Opel Kadett GSi with 85 kW/115 hp was purchased in 1991 by none other than former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, who had owned the car for five years long used together with his wife Loki for private trips. Opel Kadett GSi was able to reach the then prestigious mark of 200 km/h top speed not least because of its aerodynamic qualities with a trailblazing drag coefficient of 0.30.

Opel Kadett E GSi

On-site vehicles: Rally organizers on the move in the all-new Opel Astra

Just as brilliant as the Kadett models of the different decades, latest generation of the Opel Astra also drives up as a support vehicle at the Bodensee Klassik. Organizers can experience the newcomer as a limousine on site.Sixth, completely newly developed generation of the compact class bestseller is not only a real design gem with the Opel Vizor, fully digital Pure Panel and top technologies such as the latest version of the adaptive, non-glare IntelliLux LED Pixel light, it is also electrified for the first time available - and in the future in three variants. All-new Opel Astra can already be ordered as a plug-in hybrid, which will be supplemented by a second performance level in the course of the year. From 2023, the purely battery-electric Opel Astra-e will complete the range.

All-New Opel Astra Hybrid

At the same time, the new Astra once again stands for making technologies and innovations affordable for everyone. Every version comes with numerous state-of-the-art assistance systems as standard. These include systems such as the front collision warning with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition and drowsiness detection, as well as the park pilot for the front and rear or a 180-degree reversing camera.

Strong Field in ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup 2022

• World's first electric one-make rally cup made even more attractive
• Teams from seven nations are at the start at seven events
• Romanian Cristiana Oprea takes on the otherwise male field of participants

Opel Corsa-e Rally

Preparations for the second season of the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup are entering the home straight before the battle for points resumes at the ADAC Actronics Rally in Sulingen from May 6. The world’s first electric one-make rally cup is even better positioned for the 2022 season than it was in its successful debut year. Opel Corsa-e Rally was optimised with detail improvements over the winter. A newly developed multi-disc limited slip differential increases the traction of the 100 kW/136 hp electric rally car and upgraded software improves the thermal management of the 50-kilowatt-hour battery. In addition, a modified sound system enhances the acoustic appeal of the electric rally car.

Attractive schedule with seven rounds in the German Rally Championship (DRM) as well as guest outings in Austria, France and the Netherlands is enhanced by the very international field of participants. German rally aces face competitors from six other nations. With Germans Lukas Thiele, Christian Lemke, Joe Baur, Max Reiter and Alexander Kattenbach as well as the Dutch veteran Timo van der Marel, six ”old hands” go into their second e-Cup year. Timo Schulz (22) makes his debut in the Corsa-e Rally with the support of ADAC Saarland.

They all face ambitious newcomers such as Swede Calle Carlberg and Finn Kalle Markanen, both of whom are competing for the experienced Schmack Motorsport team. With 22-year-old Luca Pröglhöf from Sittendorf, a promising young Austrian talent will compete with the Opel Austria Corsa-e Rally entered by Stohl Racing. Dutchman Jari van Hoof got such a taste for the sport at last year's Sachsen Rally that he will contest a full Cup season in 2022 in the racing team of his mentor Timo van der Marel. And last year's champion team Saintéloc Racing from France goes to the start with 30-year-old Romanian Cristiana Oprea, the only female driver in the illustrious field.

 Cristiana Oprea with Opel Corsa-e Rally

Two Opel Corsa-e Rally from England in Cup plus VIP vehicle from TotalEnergies

Two highly interesting new entries come from the United Kingdom. British Opel sister brand Vauxhall is entering a Corsa-e Rally, which will be piloted by rotating guest drivers. Excitement is being stirred up by the second British vehicle, which is even sponsored by the British government. The project is driven by Simon Moss, who teaches motorsport management at Myerscough College in Bilsborrow, Lancashire and uses the innovative concept of the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup as a showcase for his studies.

In addition, TotalEnergies' VIP car will be used at selected events as a rally taxi and course car or with guest drivers in competition. Global technology partner of the Stellantis Group is increasing its involvement in the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup this season.