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DaveGibson
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 Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 1:22 am Post subject: GM to retain Opel/Vauxhall. |
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The BBC is reporting that GM has cancelled the agreement to sell Opel/Vauxhall to Magna and is to retain the business. It reasons that its business situation has improved and Opel's development facilities are core to its future.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8341485.stm |
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gonnabuildabuggy
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| Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 1:31 am Post subject: |
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Amazing.
I'm still feeling sorry for the Lloyds board who helped Gordon out by taking on HBOs to prevent it going under on the basis of "ignored" competition laws, found out it was a worse "pup" then ever thought and now they've been told to sell of branches to increase competition.
The lunatics are running the asylum.
Rumours are building of another bank maybe going west though, we are far from through this.
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PG
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| Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 1:42 pm Post subject: |
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IIRC, GM had to sell Opel as the US government funds used to bail out GM were specifically not to be used to support overseas operations. And GM could therefore not support Opel any longer.
So what has changed that GM can now afford the US$ 3billion that is being talked about at the restructuring costs? I expect that it will just be GM taking German government cash now rather than Magna? |
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TimR
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| Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:00 pm Post subject: |
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| PG wrote: |
So what has changed that GM can now afford the US$ 3billion that is being talked about at the restructuring costs? I expect that it will just be GM taking German government cash now rather than Magna? |
GM have said they'll be talking to the German 'and other' European Governments.
From what Jay Nagley this morning it can only be a good thing as the Magna deal appeared to favour the German factories over UK ones which have been proven to be more efficient.
That's not to mention the intentions of the Russian contingent in the proposed deal.
Hopefully it will safeguard more UK jobs. |
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PG
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| Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:11 pm Post subject: |
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| TimR wrote: | From what Jay Nagley this morning it can only be a good thing as the Magna deal appeared to favour the German factories over UK ones which have been proven to be more efficient.
That's not to mention the intentions of the Russian contingent in the proposed deal.
Hopefully it will safeguard more UK jobs. |
I do think it is a good thing that GM are keeping Vauxhall/Opel and let's hope that it does secure more UK jobs. |
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Matt
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| Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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What I read about this last night was they'd have to go on with losing 10,000 jobs. How about shit-can your wanky yanky brands and just build Opels in America?
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canadian bacon
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| Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:15 am Post subject: |
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| Matt wrote: | | What I read about this last night was they'd have to go on with losing 10,000 jobs. How about shit-can your wanky yanky brands and just build Opels in America? |
they tried that - they were called Saturn.....and it was deep sixed as well.
Face it, while you can't pretend Opel/Vauxhall product was the very cutting edge, it was way too european for most North 'merican tastes.
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Matt
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| Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:46 am Post subject: |
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Ah, but was the Saturn Astra built in the States or imported?
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canadian bacon
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Roadsterstu
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| Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:56 am Post subject: |
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| Matt wrote: | | What I read about this last night was they'd have to go on with losing 10,000 jobs. How about shit-can your wanky yanky brands and just build Opels in America? |
I could never understand why certain large manufacturers had so many different brands for different countries. Granted, it's not always a case of one size fits all but if some companies can sell what is essentially the same product the world over, why do others, such as GM or Ford, have totally different ranges in different countries? Surely it must make more sense to develop a single range, but with smaller, less costly variations, than entirely different models?
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BeN
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| Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:59 am Post subject: |
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Most of GM's global "units" were independent before they were taken over (Opel, Holden etc). I guess they didn't want to upset the market by removing the brand entirely.
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DradusContact
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| Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:59 am Post subject: |
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As has been discussed many times though a cars brand/image is just as, sometimes more important than how good it is. Anything German for example is always going to command a premium over say, a ford, regardless of which is better.
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TimR
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DetmoldDick
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| Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:18 pm Post subject: |
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"GM is seeing “some supportive” reactions from governments in the U.K., Poland and Spain, possibly leading to the creation of a finance syndicate, to help bolster Opel, he said"
So the sattelite production countries are playing ball whilst the Germans are kicking up stink. I think it is probably these other production sites that make Opel viable at all.
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gonnabuildabuggy
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| Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:39 pm Post subject: |
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| DradusContact wrote: | | As has been discussed many times though a cars brand/image is just as, sometimes more important than how good it is. Anything German for example is always going to command a premium over say, a ford, regardless of which is better. |
Aren't most Fords made in Germany?
Some BMW's are made in South Africa but that's not what people know.
The two issues are Brand and Price - always has been and always will. In the 70's we (well our Dad's) all wanted to drive BMW's but couldn't afford to 
But...brand is a moveable feast and a reflection of past and current iamge and quality, the Saab brand is nothing like it was, undermined by selling badged up Cavaliers, ditto Mercedes are no longer seen as quite so "hewn from solid". BMW keep getting it right so their brand image is good. Jaguar have turned things around brand wise as well.
Good design can help as well - Volkswagen's moved on radically with the 90's interiors, before then a Passat was just viewed as an expensive Mondeo alternative.
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Humphrey The Pug
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| Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Roadsterstu wrote: | | Matt wrote: | | What I read about this last night was they'd have to go on with losing 10,000 jobs. How about shit-can your wanky yanky brands and just build Opels in America? |
I could never understand why certain large manufacturers had so many different brands for different countries. Granted, it's not always a case of one size fits all but if some companies can sell what is essentially the same product the world over, why do others, such as GM or Ford, have totally different ranges in different countries? Surely it must make more sense to develop a single range, but with smaller, less costly variations, than entirely different models? |
But don't some countries get the older models, I believe the many Fords in the US have been out for donkeys years and the Focus is based on the European MkI Focus, if you can get away with still producing the older model in certain countries then brilliant, it would have paid for itself years ago, but then that's the problem with GM, Chrysler and Ford in North America, the Americans have finally woken up to the fact that their home grown cars are shit and the Japanese and European stuff piss all over them.
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