Report: Opel Will Introduce New Flagship SUV and Electric Vehicles

Although Opel is no longer under the ownership of General Motors, the brand will move forward with plans to introduce a flagship SUV and new electric vehicles.

As part of its largest product expansion ever, Opel will introduce seven new or updated models this year, reports Automotive News. And eventually, its portfolio will include an SUV that sits alongside the Insignia midsize sedan as Opel’s second flagship vehicle. Opel will also launch new EVs including follow-up versions of the Ampera-e, the twin to the Chevrolet Bolt sold in the U.S.

Opel CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann, speaking with German magazine Auto Motor und Sport, says that the brand will continue to design and develop its own cars. However, future models will use platforms sourced from Opel’s new owner, PSA Group. The transition to new platforms will take several years, says Neumann, who has led Opel since 2013.

Before the sale to PSA Group, Neumann might have been looking to turn Opel into an electric car brand. According to reports, the CEO was concerned Opel wouldn’t have enough resources to make both internal combustion and electric powertrains if it stayed under the ownership of GM. And because Germany is looking to ban internal combustion cars by 2030, Neumann was apparently considering an EV-only lineup. It’s unclear if this might still be Opel’s long-term strategy, as Neumann has declined to comment on those reports.

GM sold its unprofitable Opel business earlier this month in a deal worth $2.3 billion. The deal with PSA is expected to leverage economies of scale in purchasing, manufacturing, and research and development. Savings are expected to total 1.7 billion euros by 2026, GM says.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)

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