Tuesday, 8 July 2014

!NEW! Opel Continues Upwards Trend on European Market

  • In June overall European vehicle market sales increased by 6 percent
  • First half-year 2014 growth of 4 percent well above same year-ago period
  • Market share gains in eleven European countries including Germany

New Opel Insignia registrations increased by almost 50 percent last year.
Opel remains one of the winners on the European vehicle market: in June the manufacturer increased new vehicle registrations by 6 percent over the same year-ago period. With this growth, the company clearly distanced itself from overall market developments, which hovered just under last year’s June level. With around 109,000 new vehicles sold, share of the overall European vehicle market rose by 0.4 percentage points to 6.4 percent according to preliminary figures.

Opel also sold considerably more cars in the first half of the year compared to the same year-ago period. From January to June, the brand increased sales by 4 percent to around 564,000 vehicles, a slight increase in share of the overall vehicle market to 5.9 percent. This put Opel’s growth at one percentage point higher than overall market growth.

“The first half-year results clearly underline that we are on the right track. Especially our new models have joined the ranks of top sellers, including the sub-compact Mokka SUV, which over 245,000 customers have already chosen. And our model offensive continues: the new Vivaro as well as the new Corsa that comes to market this year will give us even more momentum,” says Board Member for Sales Peter Christian Küspert.

Opel Mokka SUV
In June and in the first six months of this year, Opel gained market shares in eleven European markets. The clear upswing was also apparent in Germany, where share of the overall vehicle market increased in the first six months by around 0.3 percentage points to 7 percent. In June, market share even reached 7.6 percent, an increase of around 0.9 percentage points compared to last year and the highest market share since December 2011. On the passenger car market alone, Opel achieved a market share of 8 percent in June, according to the German Federal Office for Motor Vehicles (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, KBA).

Opel Zafira Tourer MPV
Opel Mokka was number one in the SUV segment in the first six months of the year in Germany. New Insignia registrations increased by almost 50 percent during this period compared to last year. But also the established models in the Opel portfolio, such as the Zafira Tourer, were successful. Opel Zafira Tourer was number two in the large van segment in both June and in the first half of the year. 

In the UK, Vauxhall clearly reinforced its position as the second largest passenger car brand in the first half of the year. In June, the brand grew its share of the overall British vehicle market by more than one-half percentage point to 11.9 percent, taking second place in registration statistics. In both time periods, the Insignia and Zafira lead their segments, while the Corsa and Mokka were both second in their segments.

In Spain, the brand achieved a market share of 7.67 percent in the first half of the year. This was the best result since 2006 and put it in second place in the Spanish registration statistics. In June market share even reached 8 percent. In Hungary, Opel was market leader in the overall vehicle market in June and in the first six months of the year. 

!NEW! Vauxhall announces 550 new jobs at its Ellesmere Port and Luton plants

  • 300 new jobs at Ellesmere Port Astra plant in Cheshire
  • Second shift and 250 new jobs at Luton van facility in Bedfordshire

Ellesmere Port - Astra Production
As its business grows and with another new model on the horizon Vauxhall has confirmed that it will take on 550 new employees at its manufacturing sites in Ellesmere Port and Luton, the first significant new-hire programme for a decade.

Around 300 new jobs will be secured at the Ellesmere Port plant in Cheshire.  The plant currently operates on two shifts but as sales volumes build more employees are required to cope with increased output at the facility. The new jobs will be phased in over the first quarter of 2015.

In 2012, Ellesmere Port won the contract to build the next generation, all-new Astra.  Production of this model begins towards the end of 2015. The agreement runs into the next decade and secured a £125 million investment.

Also looking forward to a bright future is Vauxhall’s Luton plant where a second shift is to be added in January 2015, creating around 250 new jobs. The Luton facility builds the recently launched all-new Vivaro van and will be taking on these new employees to increase output next year.  In 2011, Luton won the contract to build the new Vivaro, entailing a £185 million investment.

“This is great news for Vauxhall and for British manufacturing,” said Tim Tozer, Vauxhall’s Chairman and Managing Director. “Both of our UK manufacturing plants have won long contracts with all-new product and as the business strengthens, we now need to take on more people to build these exciting new Vauxhalls.”  

Tuesday, 1 July 2014

All-New Buick Envision SUV to Make Premiere in China

Shanghai GM today announced that its all-new high-end midsize SUV, the Buick Envision, will make its premiere in China later this year.

All-new high-end midsize SUV, the Buick Envision, will make its premiere in China later this year.

Inspired by the Buick Envision concept vehicle, the newest member of the Buick SUV family has dynamic and assertive styling. It fuses iconic Buick design cues with the brand’s new high-end, refined global design concepts.

Buick Envision SUV concept



The Envision adopts a new-generation powertrain along with GM’s new all-wheel-drive technology. The fuel-saving start/stop technology will come standard across the line. The model is destined to set a new benchmark in China’s high-end midsize SUV segment for space, safety, performance and specifications.

Buick Envision SUV concept - Interior

The new model will complement the Encore and new Enclave in Buick’s China SUV portfolio, providing a range of choices for SUV buyers.