With General Motors’ future uncertain here in the U.S., the automaker’s foreign arms are getting a little nervous about what might become of them. GM’s German Opel division is taking matters into its own hands, with Opel’s Managing Director Hans Demant asking the German government for guarantees to ensure Opel’s survival.
Because of the problems GM is currently facing in the U.S., it’s easy to forget just how global GM’s operations are. But Opel is feeling the economic pinch just as much as any automaker, with sales seeing a significant drop-off.
“We want to assure Opel’s future in Europe as well as our jobs,” Opel labor leader Klaus Franz told Automotive News. “The aim of the current talks is to prepare additional backing for loans because parent company General Motors’ global financial situation has deteriorated.”
According to Germany’s Handelsblatt news paper, the German state of Hesse – which happens to be the home for Opel’s headquarters – is considering a $634 million aid package to see Opel through these tough times. No word on a timeframe for the German government’s decision, but with GM running out of cash at an alarming rate, we suspect a ruling will be coming sooner rather than later.
11/14, 1:23 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
LOL………………
11/14, 1:42 PM
posted by:
Mike the loser
They are begging everywhere
11/14, 1:49 PM
posted by:
Z06ified
Laugh now, fools…
11/14, 1:56 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
The aid package should come with this stipulation:
GM shall not: (1) rebadge Opels with a stupid name like “Astra;” (2) give them an anaemic engine; (3)overprice them; nor (4) export them to the U.S. to sit on dealer lots gathering dust.
11/14, 1:59 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
That’s one hell of a tampon GM has if the string reaches all the way to Europe.
11/14, 2:05 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
Z06ified….
the only reason I was laughing was because of this…
(“We want to assure Opel’s future in Europe as well as our jobs,” Opel labor leader Klaus Franz told Automotive News”
A labor leader is also known as a “Union Head”……….
11/14, 2:11 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Sorry, that’s one hell of a tampon they’re going to need if the string has to reach that far.
11/14, 3:05 PM
posted by:
Borat
Johnny, GM is looking for monetary tampon when they are in need of very deep invasive surgery.
BTW, German government already suggested that Opel bend over and try lick themselves. They ain’t giving that much cash. And EU will sue US if our government will bailout GM. It is called subsidies – the same subsidies GM complain about in Korea and Japan.
11/14, 3:11 PM
posted by:
inline6
howsmydriving,
1) It’s called the Astra in Europe, too, where it sells like hotcakes. 2) The 1.8L is the top mill outside of the OPC/VXR engines in the Euro Opel/Vauxhall Astra, and it makes about the same power as the Civic and Corolla engines. 3) When you’re importing low-margin small cars and the exchange rates are unfavorable, you can either price them accordingly, or take a loss on every one. It’s also worth noting that the Astra isn’t really any more expensive than the Civic and Corolla, and 4) GM can’t MAKE people buy them.
Might want to think about the validity of your complaints BEFORE you complain.
11/14, 3:44 PM
posted by:
rja377
They’re built just over the border anyway:
http://www.chevrolet.com.mx/content_data/LAAM/MX/es/GMMGM/showroom/chevrolet/downloads/pdf/astra_2008.pdf
Relax the “Federal Safety Features” and just import them already!!
11/14, 3:54 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
The problem with the Astra is precisely that it does not offer a specific price/value proposition to go against the small-hatch heavyweights like Honda/Toyota, and because its a Saturn there is very little wiggle room in the pricing to improve that ratio. It’s an absolutely great looking car, but most people in that range are less concerned with the appearance and more with the practicaility, and that in the end is price/value.
When I’ve priced out an Astra for fun, even at MSRP it is not that attractive. Factor in that I can easily beat up any other dealer besides Saturn to get $1,500 more out of the deal at that price point, and the Astra wouldn’t come into consideration. Saturn has some great cars now, but their pricing scheme caters only to customers who are afrais to negotiate. People like me won’t consider them for that simple reason. I say if you are a bendover who is afraid to negotiate, just go to any dealer and pay what’s on the window sticker and be done with it, but then you dont have to be limited to Saturn.
11/14, 5:22 PM
posted by:
Borat
mayer_ray_nagin, there are no problems with Astra. There are problems with GM, lotsa of problems.
11/14, 5:23 PM
posted by:
GalaxyCruiser316
This is horrible. I love the new Insignia! Though I live in the United State I try to keep up with at the all the motor companies. This seem like GM may have to start downsizing in its upper levels because of the money crisis. Which make me wonder, why the of “BIG THREE” companies bring some of their European vehicles to the U.S? Those vehicles seem to be more eco-friendly and the turbo diesels are selling well over there. Maybe that can save the “BIG THREE”, if they bring some of that technology over here.
11/14, 7:42 PM
posted by:
crackerhemi
you are such a retard, yarddog82abn. Learn how to use a period. Your grammar is reflective of your intelligence.