Peugeot-Citroen agrees deal with GM to buy Vauxhall-Opel
Discussion
For £1.9billion apparently.
Probably not good for Vauxhall UK production facilities.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39175740
Probably not good for Vauxhall UK production facilities.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39175740
DrDeAtH said:
Let's import Holden's after Brexit!
Minor detail - Holden's the exact same as Vauxhall now - just a single-market nameplate for cars sold in a number of other markets. They're stopping all Australian manufacture. The next Commodore will be a rebadged Insignia, and the Caprice is being dropped completely.Most of the rest of the range is Opels - which'll almost certainly be replaced by models from GM Korea.
I really wish the media would stop talking about Vauxhall as if it's something more than merely Opel's GB importer own-brand.
FW18 said:
UK production might be safe till the GM platforms are replaced over the coming years. But I can see the VX/Opel brand going eventually as I can't see it fitting in anywhere in the PSA brands.
Pretty much this.The existing product will see out its life with a continuity agreement then be retired.
At this point you might see some badge engineering but I'm not sure PSA will bother as they have their own established brands.
As and when they identify overcapacity the axe is likely to fall in certain areas as they'll be the ones with the significant refit/conversion costs. Plus the nature and ownership of PSA steers them to protecting some parts of the business at the expense of others.
Maybe it wont go that way but I see Vauxhall/Opel having even less life left in it in the future than Holden does.
Jonesy23 said:
At this point you might see some badge engineering but I'm not sure PSA will bother as they have their own established brands.
It does make you wonder what the point of this sort of thing is - all it seems to achieve is taking out a competitor. Why would PSA think it's their job to do that?I can't see any more reason for PSA to dump the Opel/Vx brands than VAG did when they bought SEAT or Skoda or when Peugeot bought Citroen for that matter.
If they add to the bottom line and volumes then I think they'll keep them. PSA clearly feel the future of volume car manufacturing is to be making one car in huge numbers sold under several brands.....just like VAG in fact.
If they add to the bottom line and volumes then I think they'll keep them. PSA clearly feel the future of volume car manufacturing is to be making one car in huge numbers sold under several brands.....just like VAG in fact.
With Peugeot meant to be upmarket, Citroen quirky and DS premium, I guess Vauxhall will be their mass market/value range a bit like Skoda?
I like the new Citroen designs and can see why people buy a DS but would anyone really lust after a Peugeot or Vauxhall other than the fleet manager?
I like the new Citroen designs and can see why people buy a DS but would anyone really lust after a Peugeot or Vauxhall other than the fleet manager?
KTF said:
..but would anyone really lust after a Peugeot or Vauxhall other than the fleet manager?
Corsa and Mokka seem pretty popular. I've no idea how the numbers look, but amongst neighbours and relatives it's Astra that seems to have suffered. People who for years bought them one after another seem to have moved to other marques, although my elderly next dooor neighbour did just dump his Jazz and go back to Astra (a 3yr old one) as he never took to the Jazz and Astra was familar ground.KTF said:
With Peugeot meant to be upmarket, Citroen quirky and DS premium, I guess Vauxhall will be their mass market/value range a bit like Skoda?
I like the new Citroen designs and can see why people buy a DS but would anyone really lust after a Peugeot or Vauxhall other than the fleet manager?
The simple answer is, yes. Whilst the (dwindling) sales of their larger cars are fleet sales of the smaller ones are still a lot of private. Cars like the 108/C2, C3, 208, C4, Picasso etc. are sold to plenty of private buyers as are Corsas and Astras. I like the new Citroen designs and can see why people buy a DS but would anyone really lust after a Peugeot or Vauxhall other than the fleet manager?
Insignias and 508s less so.
Put simply and no matter how committed the workforce - French car companies move heaven and earth to fill French car factories and with the overcapacity that now exists UK manufacturing will end. I was surprised that Nissan elected to keep Sunderland for new models but I still think that has time to play longer.
It doesn't matter if the UK sites are the best at quality and diligence and speed - they are toast for political reasons. It's happened before so is no surprise. The good thing is that they can cite Brexit (I now blame Brexit for the overcapacity of my stomach!) - but another reason would have been found if it wasn't that. Never forget the shareholding in these companies often includes the government and they are allergic to burning tyres on Autoroutes.
It is a shame but there you go.
It doesn't matter if the UK sites are the best at quality and diligence and speed - they are toast for political reasons. It's happened before so is no surprise. The good thing is that they can cite Brexit (I now blame Brexit for the overcapacity of my stomach!) - but another reason would have been found if it wasn't that. Never forget the shareholding in these companies often includes the government and they are allergic to burning tyres on Autoroutes.
It is a shame but there you go.
KTF said:
With Peugeot meant to be upmarket, Citroen quirky and DS premium, I guess Vauxhall will be their mass market/value range a bit like Skoda?
I like the new Citroen designs and can see why people buy a DS but would anyone really lust after a Peugeot or Vauxhall other than the fleet manager?
I was think something along these lines was the way for this to go but all the brands seem to sit very close to each other - whilst Skoda, SEAT, VW & Audi have plenty of over lap but a lot more breadth as well as the perceived higher quality of the VW & Audi brands, which people seem happy to pay a premium for - that DS don't offer. I like the new Citroen designs and can see why people buy a DS but would anyone really lust after a Peugeot or Vauxhall other than the fleet manager?
Peugeot seem to have moved up market with the 3008, but is the brand strong enough to deliver a full range like this? - Would they be better off as the SEAT style sporting brand? Citroen seem to have possessioned themselves well in the quirky but affordable and practicle end of the market.
In my opinion if we lose manufacturing of the cars from the UK, the goodwill that we as British public have towards Vauxhall will disappear (as will sales). And I guess police fleet sales too.
TooMany2cvs said:
PSA have already said that they'll use Opel as a brand to target "Oooh, I don't like French cars" customers.
Can't blame them. most of them are woeful, only since 2014 have Peugeot started to become acceptable.I do worry for the workers of Vauxhall in the long term, hopefully Peugeot won't mess around with stuff.
Dale487 said:
Peugeot seem to have moved up market with the 3008, but is the brand strong enough to deliver a full range like this? - Would they be better off as the SEAT style sporting brand? Citroen seem to have possessioned themselves well in the quirky but affordable and practicle end of the market.
Not long until we find out. The new Meriva/C3 Picasso SUV is out this autumn. Dale487 said:
In my opinion if we lose manufacturing of the cars from the UK, the goodwill that we as British public have towards Vauxhall will disappear (as will sales). And I guess police fleet sales too.
That's happened with Ford, has it?Dale487 said:
In my opinion if we lose manufacturing of the cars from the UK, the goodwill that we as British public have towards Vauxhall will disappear (as will sales). And I guess police fleet sales too.
Do people really care that much these days? I hope the Police buy the best (value) car for the job, not select them based on where they are built.
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