RUESSELSHEIM -- Opel will meet its EU-mandated target for CO2 emissions reductions, helped by its upcoming electrified cars, CEO Michael Lohscheller said.
Under previous owner General Motors, Opel and its UK sister brand Vauxhall, had no realistic roadmap for CO2 compliance and in 2017 Lohscheller warned that potential EU fines for non-compliance would pose "dramatic" risks to the future of the company.
Opel's position has now changed under new owner, PSA Group, which is providing Opel with platforms for new full-electric and plug-in hybrid models.
"Naturally we will report [CO2] results together with the rest of the PSA Group, but I consider it very important that the Opel brand makes its contribution by achieving the CO2 targets on our own. That’s why we are coming with all these new models" Lohscheller said at the unveiling of the Corsa-e, a battery-powered version of the latest Corsa small hatchback.
Lohscheller declined to specify what Opel's individual CO2 targets are under EU legislation aimed at tackling climate change. EU rules call for emissions from all new cars sold in Europe to be cut to a fleet average of 95 grams of CO2 per km by 2021, down from 120 g/km last year according to estimates from JATO Dynamics.
Opel is now taking orders for the Corsa-e, with deliveries scheduled to start by the end of June next year. Prices start at 29,900 euros in Germany.
The car will have a range of 330 km (205 miles) under the Europe's WLTP test cycle. The Corsa-e is a sister model to the Peugeot e-208, which will also arrive in dealerships early next year.
Opel also plans to launch full-electric versions of the Mokka X crossover and the Vivaro light commercial van by the end of 2020.
This month Opel opened order books for its first plug-in hybrid, the Grandland X Hybrid4, with prices starting at 49,940 euros in Germany.
During the presentation of its PACE restructuring plan in November 2017, Opel said it would offer either a battery electric or plug-in hybrid version of every model by 2024.
