A Vauxhall spokesman told just-auto the GM Europe division remains committed to outgoing CEO Duncan Aldred’s goal of outselling Ford of Britain in passenger cars “by 2016”.
During a media preview event for the facelifted Meriva, Vauxhall’s spokesman also reminded journalists the brand outsold its main rival during December. The totals were 21,302 and 19,496 in the final month of 2013 but Ford regained the lead in January, outselling Vauxhall by a large margin: 21,792 versus 14,892.
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What Vauxhall now terms ‘The One Plan’ was a statement originally made by its former CEO in September 2013. Aldred, who will shortly take up a role in Detroit as head of Buick-GMC, claimed last year that he expected the company to be Britain’s number one passenger vehicle brand “just after the middle of the decade”. New powertrains, fresh vehicle designs, more focus on retail sales and an ongoing overhaul of the dealership network were cited. Vauxhall is already the top selling car brand in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but taking into account commercial vehicle sales, Ford remains way ahead of all rivals in the UK.
As might be expected, Vauxhall Motors plays up the fact that, unlike Ford, it manufactures vehicles in Britain. New models on the way include the replacement for the Vivaro van – to to be built at Luton later in 2014 – and a new Astra, which will be built at Ellesmere Port from late 2015.
The UK is the top market for the Corsa, Vauxhall having sold 83,000 units of the vehicle in 2013, putting it over 30,000 ahead of next placed Germany. The successor model will be revealed at September’s Paris motor show and will be launched by year-end. This car more than any other, will give Vauxhall a clear shot of potential market leadership as by 2015, the Fiesta will be close to the end of its lifecycle.
The launch timing of the Astra replacement will also be fortuitous for Vauxhall (and Opel), coming as it does at least a year ahead of the next Ford Focus.
Another future vehicle for Vauxhall and Opel is the Agila replacement. Due in 2015, it will likely be sourced from GM Korea. The current model, which is supplied by Magyar Suzuki, reaches the end of its lifecycle in April 2014. As dealers lose the Agila, they will gain other new small cars, with the Adam Rocks, Adam S and a new 1.0-litre Ecotec petrol engine for the standard Adam due this summer. The second half of the year also sees a switch in sourcing for the in-demand Mokka, as Opel’s Figuerelas plant near Zaragoza in north-eastern Spain begins CKD assembly – kits will come from Bupyeong in South Korea.
Author: Glenn Brooks
