General Motors CEO expresses delight at Vauxhall success
Mary Barra, Chief Executive Officer of General Motors, has announced considerable additional investments will be directed to their subsidiary companies, Vauxhall and Opel.
Barra visited Germany for the second time this year and expressed her delight with the new Corsa, adding that 45,000 orders before the official market launch show that the fifth generation of the small car is well on its way to becoming a bestseller.
The GM CEO also confirmed that a new model would be produced at Opel's traditional headquarters in Russelsheim, Poland, by the end of the decade.
She said: "This SUV will be the second flagship alongside the Insignia."
As announced in March, 245 million will be invested in Vauxhall's Russelsheim plant to meet future requirements in Europe. Furthermore, Barra declared additional investments of more than half a billion euros in the engine and transmission plants in Poland, thus providing the impetus for Vauxhall to move to the next stage of its powertrain offensive with fuel efficient engines and transmissions.
Barra added: "Opel and Vauxhall is of high strategic importance for GM. The product offensive with 27 new models and 17 new engines has enjoyed a very successful start. These additional investments will help the brands shine again and further strengthen our position in Europe. They are a clear sign of GM's commitment to Opel/Vauxhall, to Germany and to Europe," said Barra.
Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann was delighted by the clear message: "General Motors and Opel/Vauxhall are closer than ever before. Opel/Vauxhall has General Motors' full support, the additional investments are further proof of the excellent cooperation."
by: Becca Chaplin