GM Europe is being named Opel Group

"El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!" (lightningzone)
07/22/2014 at 13:06 • Filed to: None

Autonews !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Brand will build a lineup of small cars to go against Nissan-Renault's Dacia, so that's great news !?

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Seriously speaking, GM is a mess right now. Recallgedon, Cadillac's global rererere-launch is hanging in suspension right now, GM doesn't know where its new !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! will be sold, and GM's Opel will build cheap cars, that were built by Chevrolet, diluting the Opel brand even more, less than a year after they spent millions retiring the Chevrolet brand from Europe.

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I wouldn't want to run GM right now, because this is fucking MADNESS!!!

DISCUSSION (7)

KirkyV > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
07/22/2014 at 13:12

So, Vauxhalls will still suck, but now they'll suck for less? Sweet.

(I like the rebadged Holdens, and the current Astra VXR is actually kind of nice, but that's basically it.)

Klaus Schmoll > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
07/22/2014 at 13:37

I've read that they are thinking about building a Dacia rival. Makes sense and all. But retiring the Korean crapboxes sold as Chevies and selling them under the Opel name? That would be immensely stupid. Let's hope they aren't that... Nah, fuggedd it, after all, it's the General we are talking about here.

Klaus Schmoll > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
07/22/2014 at 13:47

Two more things: - "Opel gets to have economic responsibility for all GM brands in Europe." In other words, now they can blame Opel for the failure that is the Caddy rererererererere-launch in Europe. Nice twist!

- And it seems that the sub € 10K car will not be a re-branded Daewoo, but a genuine Opel product.

El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! > Klaus Schmoll
07/22/2014 at 14:33

Who cares who builds them? Cheap cars are cheap cars, no matter where the factory is located. They dilute the brand the same.

Still, I doubt Cadillac is gonna fail again. Technically the cars better than they ever were, but their brand strategy, isn't coming together as I'd like. 10 years ago, they had the XLR, they were intended to build the Cien and they were involved with endurance racing. After that they got the strange idea they should do the basics right, first. But that takes so long, it's frustrating. I doubt Johan's arrival will clean the waters quick enough.

Cé hé sin > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
07/22/2014 at 18:11

Interestingly I remember years ago Opel (and presumably Vauxhall) dealers used to have big GM signs outside the door, about as prominent as the Opel ones. Then one day they vanished and all reference to GM vanished from the advertising as well.

Seem that they laid the groundwork for this latest wheeze a long time ago.

Cé hé sin > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
07/22/2014 at 18:14

I can't see Cadillac succeeding in Europe any time soon. The name has negative connotations, usually referring to something twenty feet long with fins out the back and its own private oil well.

ranwhenparked > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
07/22/2014 at 19:02

GM keeps insisting that they are absolutely committed to retaining Opel at all costs (and frankly, they would be smart too, even with current losses), but taking their own name off of all European operations almost seems like an early first step toward possible spin-off. Or, at least one thing that could make a spin-off easier should it ever become necessary.