Vauxhall: Holden & Daewoo to the Rescue?

Motoring Channel Staff - 4/May/2009

Detroit, America – As General Motors continues to deconstruct its sprawling global operations, the complications of this large undertaking are beginning to come to light.

It's not always a simple of case of shutting down factories or selling off brands, as General Motors is discovering.

Reports that General Motors will sell Opel, it's German brand that builds the Astra small car (sold here with a Holden badge) have not been officially confirmed but are widely viewed as signed and sealed.

While most of Opel's cars have stopped being imported into Australia (the Vectra is one example), replaced by Daewoo models, the same structure is being mooted for the U.K. brand Vauxhall.

Vauxhall currently sells rebadged Opel models in the U.K., but if Opel was bought out by Fiat or any other company, Vauxhall would be without any cars to sell.

As part of its restructure, GM is expected to turn to Daewoo, as it did in Australia, to offer a new line-up of vehicles, but Holden could also stand to benefit from Opel's departure.

Daewoo already sells many cars in Europe under Chevrolet badge, which could convolute planning.

However Vauxhall already sells HSV models in the U.K. (including the ClubSport, rebadged as a Vauxhall VXR8) and with a growing range of Australian-made vehicles Holden could stand to benefit with new exports of large (Commodore) and small (Cruze) cars.

Holden's new ethanol-powered Commodore could be a possible candidate for U.K. consumption.

As General Motors continues to divest itself of assets and reorganise its once-massive operations, Daewoo and Holden could become even more closely aligned.

Whatever happens, it's clear that General Motors has a long way to go before the dust settles.

Related Links:
- Holden Cruze (2009)
- Holden Barina (Road Test)
- Holden Ethanol E85 Commodore (2010)
- Holden Epica (Road Test)
- Vauxhall VXR8 Supercharged (2007)
- Vauxhall Monaro VXR500 (2007)