General Motors’ European Opel and Vauxhall brands are closely intertwined, but GM CEO Fritz Henderson recently revealed Vauxhall will be staying in the GM fold even if Opel is sold off. That leaves Vauxhall’s future lineup in question, but one possible solution has emerged.
According to Autocar, GM could be planning to source future Vauxhall models from its South Korean Daewoo unit. Vauxhall currently sources the majority of its vehicles from Opel, but that relationship will undoubtedly end after Opel is sold.
However, that solution wouldn’t exactly be problem free. Although Daewoo has a number of vehicles in its lineup that could replace current Vauxhall models, most of those cars are already sold in the UK under the Chevrolet banner. GM is known for its badge engineering, but it seems highly unlikely that the Detroit automaker would employ such tactics in its current state.
To avoid two full lines of identical and competing vehicles, Vauxhall could absorb Chevrolet in the UK. That move would prevent any problem overlap, but could also prove to be extremely time consuming and a logistical nightmare.
A second scenario would see Vauxhall importing a larger number of Holden vehicles. Holden, GM’s Australian unit, already supplies Vauxhall with a version of its Commodore sedan.
While it remains unclear exactly how GM will supply the future Vauxhall, we can probably expect a hybrid of the two plans– some vehicles from Daewoo and some from Holden. That dramatic shift would essentially change the face of Vauxhall overnight, for better or for worse.
05/01, 9:50 AM
posted by:
No more oil for GM
what a mess..
05/01, 9:51 AM
posted by:
Borat
GM business model at its best.
05/01, 10:22 AM
posted by:
carstuff
Assuming that Opel will be sold off which is not in the cards today.
05/01, 11:09 AM
posted by:
HoosierHero
GAH!?!? O.O
05/01, 11:17 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Outstanding. The two shining beacons of strength in GM’s repertoire are Buicks in China and Daewoos from Korea. Viva the American revolution.
05/01, 11:24 AM
posted by:
JakeK66
Let us not forget that other beacon JohnnyC – Holden in Australia – the only GM brand to have the sense to design RWD platforms.
I hope they are all bad and break down all the time, but then again they are used to that being that they are British. I’m not a fan of Britain, but that’s because an ex-gf was from there.
05/01, 12:26 PM
posted by:
Bubs Solo
And Jake that that is why to this day I hate Swedish bikini models. Damn you Inga! Damn you and your perfect Swedish Tatas to hell!
05/01, 5:11 PM
posted by:
Ring-Taxi
Further watering down of an already mediocre brand.
05/01, 5:16 PM
posted by:
ricky_b
I pity them.
05/01, 5:27 PM
posted by:
save saab
Okay idea, but if Opel goes, Vauxhall should go too.
05/01, 6:38 PM
posted by:
orangecones
As a Deawoo owner, I say if they do this, it will be the death of the brand. Quite literally the same outcome as what happened to Pontiac when the G3 (a Daewoo) arrived.
05/03, 1:27 PM
posted by:
artmark
GM has no problem selling the same cars under 2 or 3 names in the US. Why shouldn’t they take this “brilliant” strategy and use in in Europe too?
Oh yeah, because after 80 years, they finally figured out that DOESN’T WORK!
05/03, 6:59 PM
posted by:
DLB_84
Import GM-Holden vehicles? Holden build only 1 vehicle, the Commodore, and several derivatives from that (a wagon, utility/pick-up & LWB luxury), so I’m not sure which ‘vehicles’ the article talks about. All other vehicles in the Holden range are GM-Daewoo, GM-Opel sourced.
Unless there is a sudden improvement in GM-Daewoo built vehicles (which is slowly happening), re-badge-engineering them as Vauxhall will destroy the brands reputation, as has happened with Holden.
GM Selling Opel doesn’t make sense, as it’s the core brand that supplies a substantial part of GM’s ROW (Rest-of-World) brands with vehicles and design. Crazy yanks.