[source: Autoblog]

Vauxhall sans Opel could realign with GM Daewoo, Holden

Eyebrows raised at reports that General Motors could hold on to its British subsidiary Vauxhall even if – or, more likely, when – its German counterpart Opel would leave the family. With the model ranges of the two European GM divisions intertwined, a Vauxhall without Opel would seem like an empty shell. New reports suggest, however, that instead of re-plastering Opels with the griffin badge, the British marque could instead continue operations under GM ownership by importing products made by GM Daewoo Auto & Technology.

The restructuring of Vauxhall would also likely call for greater cooperation with GM Daewoo's neighbor to the south, Holden, which otherwise stands to lose significant revenues from the disintegration of GM's global operations, with Vauxhall and Pontiac having accounted for nearly half the production of its VE Commodore, sold in the UK as the Vauxhall VXR8 and in the United States as the Pontiac G8. Holden, for its part, also recently replaced many of its Opel-based products with rebadged GM Daewoo models. In the likely absence of Opel, the General's assets in England, Australia and Korea would likely end up cooperating more closely. However with Daewoos already on the European market as Chevrolets, the realignment could effectively be the end of the bowtie in Europe.

I thought Vauxhall was only sold in Great Britain. I could see where a Vauxhall/GMDAT alignment could end Chevrolet in the U.K., but I don't see why Chevrolet would have to end in mainland Europe. The only reason I could see is that maybe Vauxhall might be more accepted in mainland Europe than Chevrolet. I think predicting Chevrolet's demise in mainland Europe might be a little premature.

Opel leaving the picture is a blessing and a curse.

Holden might become more vital to future large car programs.

Then again, GM loses a credible insight into the European market.

Fiat eyes combined Chrysler, Opel company

So does this mean NA Chrysler dealers might be selling Opel Insignas and Buick will be selling Vauxhall Insignas and NA Chevrolet dealers will be selling Malibu Insignas?

Strange days.

Strange days.

Indeed. The sad part is that with each news story that emerges, GM's future appears to be getting gloomier.

I was really hoping that GM would emerge from this situation with the following global reconfiguration intact:

* Mainstream Affordable: Chevrolet/Pontiac (North America), Chevrolet/Holden/Daewoo (Global Depending On Market)

* Midmarket Premium: Buick/GMC (North America), Opel/Vauxhall/Buick (Global Depending On Market)

* Luxury/Specialty: Cadillac/Corvette (North America & Global)

Basically Saab, Hummer, and Saturn would be out of the picture.

It looks like it all is unraveling fast. My only hope is that GM can keep some kind of controlling interest in Opel, GMDAT, and Holden. I don't think GMNA is strong enough on its own anymore to engineer, design, develop, and produce all of their own products without some type of global assistance (unfortunately).

I'm starting to think Ford might actually be the only one left of the Big Three when it's all said and done. I hope I'm absolutely, positively, seriously wrong about this.

Edited May 4, 200916 yr by cire

At this point I just hope that there will be another car I really want before I die.

It ain't looking good, and I'm only 45.

I just hope GM is still around after this...

Keep faith guys. There might be darkness now and around the corner, but that does not mean future would hold the same. The situation deteriorated spirally, and it will be a while before it can improve.

A great Mongol King once said, "These Days Will Go Too."

So let me break this down...

GMNA decides to sell GME (Saab & Opel) to Fiat, seceding most of their European market.

GMNA then decides that their *YELL* GLOBAL BRAND! *YELL* Chevrolet, which has grown by leaps and bounds in Europe can no longer exist there in favor of a division that isn't even established anywhere outside of Britain and as EVERYONE across the globe knows, has basically been a badge for 20 years.

GMNA has NOW decided to package GM Latin America in with GME for the FREE taking by Fiat...

Un-f@#kin-believable....

Can the people running this company be ANY more stupid?!?! Seriously? I'm not even joking... Are they REALLY that stupid?

GM is TOAST within 3 years IMO. No Opel... (which means no small cars -- I know a deal will likely be inked to share technology, but that doesn't mean everything will go smoothly -- remember the "technology sharing" deal between GM & Fiat or GM and Subaru?) No european presence... No global operations and now, with GM latin america gone, NO small trucks...

And here's the best part, GMNA does NO development work.

Edited May 4, 200916 yr by FUTURE_OF_GM

Well, at least it is interesting....

This just all reinforces my belief that GM is done. They'll have nothing left by the end of it all. In fact, should they even survive all the butchery, their image would be worse than that of Kia, which would hurt them even more.

I'm actually eyeing this whole Fiat Auto Group discussion now, which sounds more in line with what I would want out of an auto company. Small, fuel efficient and premium.

Throw Pontiac into this mix, or send Holden zetas here, and I'm in.

Edited May 5, 200916 yr by Camino LS6