ITALY - Opel continues to grow across Europe with significant gains in numerous countries.

Translated by Google - Apologies for any errors caused.

• Sales and market share to the highest since 2011
• Opel grows much faster than the market
• Volumes increased in 17 countries

Opel continues on the path mapped out in January and continues to grow throughout Europe, even in February. According to preliminary data, new registrations have reached 80,300 units, which correspond to an increase of 15% (or about 10,500 units) over the same month of 2015. 

The Opel's market share rose by 0.3% to 5.6%. The House has registered as the best data on sales and market share in February from 5 years now.

Even the budget of Opel for the first two months of 2016 is extremely positive. Sales increased by 18,000 units, or about 13%, a figure which shows an increase of the brand more than double the market. The market share of the Rüsselsheim manufacturer increased by more than 0.3 percentage points in the period, and now stands at 5.7%. These sales figures and market shares in the first two months of the year are the best since 2011.

"We grew in 17 countries thanks to a young and interesting range. Astra has been key to these results. Astra Sports Tourer, available at dealerships from April, and new Mokka X will continue to push sales up, after an excellent start to the year, "said Peter Christian Küspert, Vice President Sales & Aftersales Opel Group.

The excellent results achieved by Opel in February due mainly by demand for the new Astra. In February, there were over 18,000 units sold of the current generation of Astra, launched in most European countries only in November. An increase of about one third. L ' "Car of the Year 2016" has already surpassed the 130,000 orders throughout Europe. Opel Corsa has also contributed to the excellent results of the House, in February, registering a sales increase of approximately 12%, to 20,400 units.

In February, sales of Opel increased in 17 European countries, including the four major markets of Western Europe, namely Germany (+ 27%), Italy (+ 24%), France (+ 23%) and Spain (+23 %). The brand's market share with Blitz grew in 16 European countries.

The increase in volumes Opel in Italy in February of 24% was reflected in a 18% increase in the first two months of 2016, over 2,700 units more. This result was mainly driven by KARL (+ 355% since Agila), stroke (+ 36%) and the new Astra 5-door (+ 155%). Particularly significant is the result between the LPG supply in which Opel has become the largest importer in the first two months of 2016 thanks to the result of Corsa and Mokka.

Vauxhall/Ope;s European plants, all 23 of them, are all now Land Fill Free facilities, shame others aren't.

• Exemplary recycling: General Motors’ industry-leading landfill-free count now totals 131 facilities including Vauxhall’s ultra-efficient Ellesmere Port and Luton plants
• Europe first global GM region with 100% landfill-free status for manufacturing plants

In total 23 Opel/Vauxhall facilities in Europe are now landfill-free, meaning they recycle, reuse or convert to energy all waste from daily operations. With the additions of Luton Assembly and Ellesmere Port Assembly in Great Britain, Europe achieved as the first global GM region 100% landfill-free status for its manufacturing plants. 

General Motors’ industry-leading landfill-free count now totals 131 facilities.

“Our global progress in waste reduction is possible because of employee participation, creative ideas, and a strong supplier network,” said Jim DeLuca, GM executive vice president of Global Manufacturing. “Our teams understand the positive impact of this initiative and they drive it in their facilities every day.”

The new landfill-free sites in Europe used a variety of tools to educate and inspire, from recycling courses to training videos that help them understand the environmental benefits and business case. Some plants designate a champion in every unit of the plant to help ensure employee participation, and recognize team members driving significant progress. All landfill-free sites will continue to improve their efforts and reduce total waste whenever possible.

“We at Opel/Vauxhall see waste as a resource out of place and want to go beyond the classical waste reduction targets that you usually reach by optimization of existing processes. Only if you understand waste as raw material you start to rethink your current processes and develop new ways to run your business differently. Strategically we do not only want to be landfill-free, we want to improve the re-use of material,” says Dr. Renate Adam, Manager Environmental Compliance and Sustainability, Opel/Vauxhall Europe.

GM teams around the world are working toward achieving 150 landfill-free sites globally by 2020. The company received a Top Project of the Year Award from Environmental Leader for driving a global movement for zero waste and outlines its best practices in its blueprint, "The Business Case for Zero Waste”.

Opel to voluntarily re-test all its models for CO2 and NOX emissions after issues were raised.

• Engineering initiative for more transparency and credibility
• From Q2 2016, Opel will start publishing WLTP cycle fuel consumption numbers for specific models reflecting more everyday driving conditions
• Engineers developing improved SCR diesel applications – improvement towards RDE NOx specifications, including voluntary customer satisfaction field action

Opel is voluntarily taking the next step to meet future emissions guidelines, both on CO₂ and NOx. From Q2 2016, and in addition to the official fuel consumption and CO₂ information, fuel consumption numbers recorded under the WLTP cycle will also be published. In addition, diesel engineers have recently started working on an initiative to implement NOx emission improvements on SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) diesel applications. 

This is a voluntary and early improvement towards the so-called RDE (Real Driving Emissions) legislation that goes into effect in 2017. Opel is committed to providing the testing authorities transparency.

“The events and discussions in the last weeks and months have shown that there is a tremendous focus on the automotive industry and it is now time to act based on the learnings,” says Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann. 

“It is obvious to me that the diesel discussion is a turning point. The world is not as it was before. We cannot ignore this and it is in the hands of the automotive industry to change the perception of the new reality.”

Fuel Consumption and CO₂

From Q2 2016, and in addition to the official fuel consumption and CO₂ information of Opel models, fuel consumption numbers recorded under the WLTP cycle will be published, starting with the new Astra. This procedure has broad industry acceptance and has been developed to be more representative of what customers will experience in use. 

According to EU plans, the “New European Driving Cycle” (NEDC) will be replaced starting in 2017 with the more modern standard “Worldwide Harmonized Light Duty Vehicles Test Procedure” (WLTP). 

The WLTP – also a test conducted in laboratory conditions – is based on stringent test procedures, more consistent with fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions in real-life road traffic. This new test cycle is important to maintain standardized, reproducible and comparable results.

SCR Technology

Related to NOx emissions, Opel is also acting right now. The Rüsselsheim automaker has started working on improved solutions for the effectiveness of exhaust gas treatment systems in Euro 6 diesel engines with SCR technology to make improvements in the direction of future RDE guidelines. RDE is the real driving emissions standard which supplements current test methods and measures a car’s emissions directly on the road.

"Our analyses in the last months show that we have no devices that tell us if our vehicles are in a test cycle or not. 

Nevertheless, we also believe that we are capable of further improving the effectiveness of reduction of oxides of nitrogen emissions from our Euro 6 diesels with SCR technology and so we are making an improvement towards future RDE specifications,” emphasizes Dr. Neumann. “We will use SCR as the mainstream system for Euro 6 diesel going forward as we continue to develop improved technologies to explore higher efficiencies.”

The work on this Euro 6 SCR improvement has started and we expect a production implementation as of the summer of 2016. This activity will also include a voluntary customer satisfaction field action that will involve 43.000 vehicles that are already on the road in Europe (Zafira Tourer, Insignia and Cascada).These vehicles will get a new calibration once it becomes available.

Opel CEO Dr. Neumann also calls for improving the transparency between automakers and authorities in Europe. “In the USA, the companies disclose their complete calibration philosophy to authorities. I would like to see us embrace this practice in Europe.” 

In this context, the Opel CEO also wants to suggest that all automakers that are active in Europe take part in a negotiated agreement for more transparency.

First pictures af the all-new Vauxhall Viva, the return of the iconic name.

• First official pictures of VIVA ahead of Spring 2015 launch
• Specially-developed 1.0-litre ECOTEC (75PS) powertrain
• Comfortable and practical with room for up to five people
• IntelliLink connectivity for seamless smartphone integration 

These are the first pictures of the VIVA, Vauxhall’s all-new five-door entry-level model. Arriving in Spring 2015, the VIVA will be the latest addition to Vauxhall’s small car range joining the fashionable ADAM and the popular Corsa supermini.

Design

With a name that pays homage to Vauxhall’s original Viva made from 1963 to 1979, the all-new VIVA shares the original’s philosophy of clean lines, durability and practicality.  It is designed for modern, everyday life and at 3.68 metres long is practical and spacious providing more than enough room for up to five people.

VIVA is the latest model in the range to display Vauxhall’s sculptured, precise design philosophy. Three strong feature lines swoop down the sides with the signature ‘blade’, seen previously on Insignia and GTC amongst others, slicing through the doors. The two others run through the front and rear door handles. The VIVA’s front end features a distinctive winged chrome bar that presents the Griffin badge.

Large headlights and taillights add to the vibrant appearance, creating an overall design that shows exceptional attention to detail for a vehicle in this class.

VIVA will be available in ten exterior paint colours with a variety of 14- to 16-inch wheels.

Powertrain and Chassis

After first appearing in the ADAM ROCKS AIR and subsequently the New Corsa, VIVA is the latest Vauxhall to feature its new 1.0-litre three-cylinder ECOTEC engine.  Specially-developed for VIVA, this 75PS powertrain is smooth, punchy and efficient, and is mated to a slick five-speed transmission.

VIVA’s chassis and steering have been developed to provide exceptional safety and class-leading comfort.

Equipment and Practicality

Like its stablemates ADAM and Corsa, VIVA is fully-connected thanks to the IntelliLink infotainment system, which allows seamless integration of Apple iOS and Android devices.

It’s also equipped with ESP featuring traction control, ABS with Electronic Brake-Force Distribution and Hill Start Assist, which prevents the car from rolling back when starting on a slope.  Further safety options can be selected including Lane Departure Warning.

Another feature that VIVA shares with ADAM and Corsa is City mode which reduces steering effort at the push of a button. Park Assist alerts the driver to obstacles whilst parking plus there’s optional cruise control, sunroof, fog lights, heated front seats and heated steering wheel.

“Short, crisp and full of character, Vauxhall’s new entry-level model is a ‘proper’ small car and will hold great appeal in this rapidly growing sector,” said Tim Tozer, Vauxhall’s Chairman and Managing Director. “On sale next year at an extremely attractive price point, VIVA joins new Corsa and ADAM in a compelling small car portfolio, giving Vauxhall an unrivalled position in the small car market.”

Opels Image is at last turning around with a raft of brand new models.

Opel is succeeding in turning around its tattered image in Germany, the brand's marketing chief Tina Mueller said.

General Motors' money-losing brand has been harmed in its key home market by bad publicity over job losses and the closure of the Bochum factory. But a major marketing campaign and new models such as the Adam minicar and Mokka small SUV are winning back customers.

"Last autumn more people thought Opel as a brand was on its way down than on its way up, that has now changed thanks to the new models and with our new image campaigns," Mueller said.

Mueller said negative publicity over job cuts had not affected the brand in other European markets but in Germany owning an Opel car in Germany had become a social stigma, also in part due to an aging product lineup in the past. “The brand became an invisible wall in the heads of customers, people that said the car is super but I wouldn’t drive an Opel,” she said.

To fix the brand's image, Mueller, who joined Opel in August 2013 from the consumer goods industry, launched a marketing campaign called “Umparken im Kopf” – roughly translated to "change parking spots in your head."

The campaign took an unusual approach. Mueller deliberately left out any association to Opel as a brand initially and instead aimed at generating interest by challenging people’s preconceived notions and prejudices in general.

Only later did Opel take credit for the campaign and begin using it as an advertising slogan to position itself as a challenger of the status quo.

The brand's advertising for the Insignia midsize sedan was a success even though initial ads for the brand's top-line model did not mention the car at all. Opel took advantage of the popularity in Germany of Juergen Klopp, the charismatic trainer of soccer club Borussia Dortmund, as a brand ambassador.

In an advertising spot for the Insignia, an airline stewardess discovers a set of dropped Opel keys on the floor close to a curtain that divides business class passengers from those in economy.

Immediately assuming they must belong to a passenger in the economy class, the stewardess is surprised to find out that they belong to Klopp, who comes out from behind business class curtain to claim them without any sign of shame. “We sold 35 percent more Insignias since this relaunch,” Muelller said.

The brand still has a "way to go" in changing public perceptions but it is moving in the right direction, she said. "We have the foundation for progress. We are confident," Mueller told the Automobilwoche Congress here earlier this month.

New products such as the Karl minicar and a new-generation Astra compact, both launching next year, will continue the brand's revival, she said.

Opel vehicle sales in Germany were up 6 percent to 185,740 in the first ten months, giving it a 7.3 percent market share, an increase of 30 basis points, according to data from the German Federal Transport Authority.

Henning Krogh contributed to this report

You can reach Christiaan Hetzner

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