Opel says crash test shows new refrigerant is safeApril 4, 2013 06:01 CET  Opel has found no evidence in a crash test on its new Mokka small SUV that a controversial air conditioning refrigerant could catch fire in a collision and release toxic fumes.... Read More »
SALES Better Q2 foreseen despite 17% fall in Germany's March registrationsApril 3, 2013 14:42 CET  Germany's new car market is expected to stabilize in the second quarter, the country's main auto association said, despite another double-digit sales decline in March.... Read More »
RESTRUCTURING German union bosses approve Opel deal despite splitMarch 27, 2013 18:02 CET  German trade union IG Metall's federal executive board approved a labor deal with Opel, paving the way for the unit to begin restructuring its domestic operations.... Read More »
RESTRUCTURING GM's Girsky slashes at Opel's cultureMarch 26, 2013 08:34 CET  General Motors Vice Chairman Steve Girsky took inspiration from a historical figure to try and stem chronic losses at Opel. GM is the leader in China and the United States but turning around its Europe operations remains spectacularly challenging.... Read More »
RESTRUCTURING Opel unions' failed gambit plays into GM's handsMarch 23, 2013 12:50 CET  Opel workers in Bochum, Germany, appear to have lost a high-stakes gamble to save their factory after an attempt to put pressure on Opel parent General Motors backfired and GM opted to close the plant ahead of schedule.... Read More »
PRODUCTION Opel union seeks talks over Bochum future after workers reject dealMarch 22, 2013 12:07 CET  Opel union leaders are seeking talks over the future of the General Motors unit's Bochum, Germany, car factory after workers rejected a deal that would have saved more than a third of the jobs at the location.... Read More »
EUROPEAN RESTRUCTURING Opel will close Bochum plant early after workers reject dealMarch 21, 2013 20:35 CET  GM's Opel unit said it would close down its factory in Bochum earlier than planned after the plant's employees turned down a deal that would have saved 1,200 jobs.... Read More »
PLANT CLOSURES Opel turnaround plan faces union vote at Bochum plantMarch 21, 2013 09:34 CET  General Motors faces a test in its plans to restructure Opel as workers at its Bochum, Germany, assembly plant vote on a deal that would guarantee the jobs of more than 20,000 German workers in exchange for a wage freeze through 2015, and keep their plant running until 2016.... Read More »
PRODUCTION Opel will build next Mokka in EuropeMarch 20, 2013 06:01 CET  Opel says it will build the next generation of its Mokka subcompact crossover in Europe and not in Korea, where the current model is manufactured.... Read More »
Geneva explorations 12:01 am U.S. ET | March 18, 2013 Automakers rolled out some high-profile vehicles during the Geneva auto show press days, but they also explored new variations on existing vehicles and platforms.... Read More »
Opel to freeze pay as Ford's Belgian workers agree on severanceMarch 15, 2013 15:19 CET GM and Ford won employees' approval in Europe for labor-cost cut plans to restore earnings in the region in response to a recession that's reducing vehicle sales. Manufacturing workers at Ford's plant in Genk, Belgium, and its suppliers will end walkouts after agreeing to severance packages.... Read More »
GM, Ford secure cuts in labor costs in Europe 9:19 am U.S. ET | March 15, 2013  GM and Ford won employees’ approval in Europe for labor-cost reductions to restore earnings in the region in response to a recession that’s reducing vehicle sales.... Read More »
PSA mirrors VW, readies megaplatform to cut costsMarch 15, 2013 06:01 CET  PSA is planning to produce its compact, mid-sized and SUV models on a common platform that also is likely to underpin models made by alliance partner GM. The struggling French automaker is looking to borrow from Volkswagen's money-saving megaplatform strategy as a way to stem massive financial losses that have forced staff cuts and a planned factory closure in France.... Read More »
Girsky irked by Europe's chilly reception for plug-inMarch 15, 2013 06:01 CET  GM Vice Chairman Steve Girsky isn't happy with the lukewarm reception the Opel Ampera plug-in hybrid has received in Europe.... Read More »
Opel is 'in attack mode,' will survive, says CEO NeumannMarch 15, 2013 06:01 CET  New Opel CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann says he can revive the beleaguered European brand and stem its persistent losses -- with plenty of help from parent company General Motors.... Read More »
Ex-Opel CEO Stracke will join Magna SteyrMarch 12, 2013 17:06 CET  Former Opel CEO Karl-Friedrich Stracke will join Magna Steyr, a unit of Magna International, on April 1. Stracke will be responsible for contract manufacturing at Magna Steyr's plant in Graz, Austria, as well as the unit's head of global engineering, the company said.... Read More »
GENEVA AUTO SHOW CEO: Opel's 'in attack mode,' will survive 12:01 am U.S. ET | March 11, 2013  New Opel CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann says he can revive the beleaguered European brand and stem its persistent losses -- with plenty of help from parent company General Motors.... Read More »
FINAL ASSEMBLY Poor car sales? Blame the pope 12:01 am U.S. ET | March 11, 2013  In the United States, a dip in car sales occasionally gets blamed on a bad storm or a maybe a flood or some other act of God. But in Italy an act of the pope can keep buyers out of the showroom.... Read More »
FINAL ASSEMBLY Girsky's irked by Europe's chilly reception for plug-in 12:01 am U.S. ET | March 11, 2013  General Motors Vice Chairman Steve Girsky isn't happy with the lukewarm reception the Opel Ampera plug-in hybrid has received in Europe.... Read More »
2012 EUROPEAN SEGMENT LEADERS Premium cars rule in fading European marketMarch 9, 2013 06:01 CET  European sales fell by 8 percent to 12.5 million units last year, but that didn't diminish buyers' appetite for premium compact vehicles. Sales of premium medium SUVs grew 24 percent to 407,512 because of strong demand for the Audi Q3 and Range Rover Evoque, according to data from JATO Dynamics.... Read More »
Carmakers seek new ways to cut CO2 emissions as EV optimism wanesMarch 8, 2013 17:06 CET  Automakers are rethinking fuel-saving technologies for passenger cars as hopes dampen that electric vehicles will play a big role in cutting CO2 emissions.... Read More »
GM struggles to overcome Chevrolet-Opel rivalryMarch 6, 2013 17:03 CET  The rivalry between GM's Opel and Chevrolet brands in Europe risks damaging both automakers. While Chevrolet is GM's largest and most important brand worldwide, selling roughly 5 million cars last year alone, it is outsold five-to-one by Opel on its home turf in the EU.... Read More »
2013 GENEVA AUTO SHOW Opel prices new Cascada convertible under 25,000 eurosMarch 5, 2013 06:01 CET  Opel/Vauxhall's new Cascada mid-sized convertible will be priced more than 14,000 euros less than potential rivals when it starts arriving at dealerships in April as the money-losing brand seeks to attract buyers looking for a cheaper alternative to premium convertibles.... Read More »
Carmakers warn of weak European market for years to comeMarch 5, 2013 12:38 CET  New-car sales in Europe are at the low end of expectations and the market is likely to remain shaky for at least five years as the region implements austerity measures to cut its debts, industry executives warned on Tuesday.... Read More »
New Opel CEO Neumann readies turnaround plansMarch 5, 2013 15:28 CET  Karl-Thomas Neumann, Opel's new CEO, outlined three priorities while saying he took the job at General Motors' money-losing European subsidiary because of its improved vehicles and GM's commitment to spend billions of dollars turning the business around.... Read More »
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