Not this again... :(

[pimento]

The main question is around what exactly they are selling.. if they are just selling the brand name, you can bet you bum that you'll see a Chevy Astra pretty shortly. The question mark is who owns the tech and the facilities, GM or Opel?

[Commodore GS/E]

The main question is around what exactly they are selling.. if they are just selling the brand name, you can bet you bum that you'll see a Chevy Astra pretty shortly. The question mark is who owns the tech and the facilities, GM or Opel?

GM, of course... .
This is just an ugly mess. GM lets Opel do all the development work and gives them next to nothing in return. And now they wonder why Opel is losing money...
Akerson is such an idiot.

[Ferrer]

Volkswagen apparently genuinely interested in Opel.

Probably.

VW Reportedly Put a Price on the Table for GMs Interest - Carscoop

[Kitdy]

VW are truly the evil empire.

[pimento]

On the other hand, there was an earlier article saying that GM had stated that Opel is not for sale.

[Commodore GS/E]

On the other hand, there was an earlier article saying that GM had stated that Opel is not for sale.

And you believe them? They have just said that Opel is important for them, which could also be a message to the competition that they will only sell Opel at a high price.
Also, VW buying Opel would be like Ford buying Chevy. The hardcore Opel and VW fans would commit mass suicide .

[Ferrer]

Moar overlap because moar.

Opel and Chevrolet too close for Comfort? GM Thinks So - Carscoop

This bit is funny, though:

Wayne Brannon, President of Chevrolet Europe, thinks that what sets his brand apart is its American identity: "If you ask 100 Europeans what they know about Chevrolet, research shows that 85 of them think of 'Chevy' as a brand with American roots and values. No other volume brand in this marketplace can say that".

[pimento]

Wouldn't most Euros preface the "..it's American." with "I won't buy one because.."?

[Ferrer]

Wouldn't most Euros preface the "..it's American." with "I won't buy one because.."?

Precisely.

Our idea of an American car is big floaty boat with an abysmal fuel consumption.

[Matra et Alpine]

Wouldn't most Euros preface the "..it's American." with "I won't buy one because.."?

I disagree with Ferrer on this one but that reflects the difference that has always generally existed between British car buyers and European cousins. THo' the difference is much less.

So although Britain is Europe, we seem to continue not to be "European" ... sorry

Years back I would go to European clients and the company car parks woudl be full of 100s of cars 90% of which were "local". Fiat/Alfa in Italy. Renault/Peugeot in France. BMW/Mercedes in Germany. Seat in Spain.
They all thought it odd when they woudl visit our factory in Scotland and see a complete mix. They all expected to see Ford/Rover.

Brits in the main dont buy a "name". We buy ( and esp. the Scots ) the best car for the best price. Thus a wide range of models by differing people with differeing needs.

Whcih brings me to why we Brits "dont buy American cars" ... they are NOT GOOD yes, but MAINLY they didn't come RHD Those that did were the worst vehicles from other manufacturers with a US name plonked on it !

[Commodore GS/E]

Coming over from GMInsidenews, I am now fully aware of the fact that most Americans don't seem to know anything about the Euro market. Example: for the case Opel would be sold, most forum memebers would see absolutely NO problem in rebadging everything Chevy and selling those at the same numbers they achieved with Opel. Another great idea was to retain Vauxhall and make it the new main european GM brand.
I lol'd. A lot. And I'm very happy that UCP is a lot more professional than those guys.

[Ferrer]

I disagree with Ferrer on this one but that reflects the difference that has always generally existed between British car buyers and European cousins. THo' the difference is much less.

So although Britain is Europe, we seem to continue not to be "European" ... sorry

Years back I would go to European clients and the company car parks woudl be full of 100s of cars 90% of which were "local". Fiat/Alfa in Italy. Renault/Peugeot in France. BMW/Mercedes in Germany. Seat in Spain.
They all thought it odd when they woudl visit our factory in Scotland and see a complete mix. They all expected to see Ford/Rover.

Brits in the main dont buy a "name". We buy ( and esp. the Scots ) the best car for the best price. Thus a wide range of models by differing people with differeing needs.

Whcih brings me to why we Brits "dont buy American cars" ... they are NOT GOOD yes, but MAINLY they didn't come RHD Those that did were the worst vehicles from other manufacturers with a US name plonked on it !

Well you may have a point in other countries, but here the high sales of Seats (and Citroens and Renault for that matter) was due to the high taxes imported models attracted. So until we didn't get democracy (and even then it took some years...) there was little choice because imported models were much more expensive than locally built ones. But ever since Seat's popularity diwndled (altough last year they were the best selling car maker after a long time). As for the British isles, well weren't the Cortina, Escort and Sierra best sellers during the 70's, 80's and 90's?

In any case, you do have a point in one thing. Euros do not accept unknown names easily.

Coming over from GMInsidenews, I am now fully aware of the fact that most Americans don't seem to know anything about the Euro market. Example: for the case Opel would be sold, most forum memebers would see absolutely NO problem in rebadging everything Chevy and selling those at the same numbers they achieved with Opel. Another great idea was to retain Vauxhall and make it the new main european GM brand.
I lol'd. A lot. And I'm very happy that UCP is a lot more professional than those guys.

If they are really forced between Chevrolet and Vauxhall, go for the Luton badge... or accept being a minor player in Europe.

[Commodore GS/E]

If they are really forced between Chevrolet and Vauxhall, go for the Luton badge... or accept being a minor player in Europe.

Well, that would kinda save them in GB, but in Europe...?
There is a saying in germany: "Gott schütze uns vor Sturm und Wind und Autos die aus England sind!" (Translated: "God save us from storm and wind and cars from england ). Which means that brands from the Island don't have a good reputation here, at least when it comes to mainstream brands. Aston and Jag have a better perception.

And yes, I don't think that GM could achieve ANYTHING if they would axe Opel in favor of Chevy. I don't think they will ever get something like a good reputation because their competition builds much better cars (read: Hyundai and Kia).


And by the way (i know it's completely off-topic): how much does a Dodge Dart 3700GT cost nowadays?

[Ferrer]

Well at least Vauxhall wouldn't produce the Corvette syndrome rejection, but obviously it is an unknown quantity in the continent. In any case, none of them is as established as Opel is, that's for sure.

They might as well use Holden at this point. And bring their rear wheel drive V8 cars in the process...

[Matra et Alpine]

Opel is a well received brand and they'd be crazy to do anything else.

Problem with Vauxhall is that it has the memory of the "Vauxhall Cresta" whcih rusted faster than an Alfa and ruined the rband image for a long time and if not for being able to buidl on the back of Opel designs I fear Vauxhall would have gone the way of Austin.