Opel’s troubles are well-documented and it will take years before it is expected to start making money again, but at least there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Firstly, in a recent interview at the Detroit Motor Show (NAIAS), General Motors CEO Dan Akerson said, “Opel is not for sale.” He then added, “it’s not going to be given away either.” This statement, probably aimed at quelling rumours that General Motors was keen to off-load Opel to Peugeot, will be welcome news to those in the industry hoping for an Opel revival, among which thousands of worried employees.
Opel recently revealed details of its complex ten-year restructuring plan, called “Drive! 2022”. During the next ten years Opel aims to shed $500 million in costs and hopes to achieve 90 per cent plant utilisation. It has already consolidated Astra production from three to two plants, and in 2016 the Bochum facility will close down. Opel has also stated that it will launch 23 new or significantly revised models by 2016, a massive roll-out to say the least. Also due are a raft of new engines (13 in total, including a new 1,0-litre turbopetrol and 1,6-litre turbodiesel), of which some will be co-developed with Peugeot. Will these measures be enough to see Opel return to at least “break-even” point by 2016? Analysts are divided on that outcome, some suggesting that new product is not the only answer (everyone is doing new product), and that the cost-saving measures are too “incremental”.
Nevertheless, the new product rumours are tantalising, and include a number of surprises, the biggest of which must be the possibility of a Manta successor and a “real GT” car. Opel is likely to unveil a dramatic performance car concept at the Geneva Motor Show, a car recently captured on photos that showed bulging front fenders and an aggressive Adam-inspired face.
There are also strong rumours that the Calibra sports coupe could return, based on the Astra platform and essentially being a tin-top version of the marque’s attractive new Cascada convertible.
In line with Opel’s upmarket ambitions is a new flagship car to slot in above the company’s highly rated Insignia medium executive saloon. Opel CEO Karl-Friedrich Stracke recently said: “I believe we need a top of the line car to be positioned in the luxury segment. The Insignia car has done a great job of showing we can make premium-like products, but establishing ourselves properly in this territory will be a long journey.”
Also on Stracke’s wish-list is a premium SUV to battle the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz M-Class. It is rumoured that this vehicle could share a platform with the next-generation Buick Enclave. Although Opel already offers the aged Antara (Chevrolet Captiva based) and new Mokka, this growing segment needs to be addressed more convincingly.
The 23 new models will include facelifts to the likes of the Corsa, Astra and Insignia as well as spin-offs of current models – including OPC and convertible versions of the Adam compact car. Which of these cars will we see in South Africa? That all depends on pricing and likely local volumes. Considering Opel’s premium market ambitions and the fact that many of the forthcoming new models will be positioned upmarket, we expect very few of them to travel to South Africa, but would not be surprised to see some niche models offered for sale.
