Outgoing Vauxhall CEO Duncan Aldred has reiterated the goals for GM’s UK unit under the ‘One Plan’.

Aldred was widely reported as having told Vauxhall managers last year that Vauxhall can overhaul UK car market leader Ford by just after the middle of the decade.

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However, in remarks to journalists at a farewell dinner in London last night, Aldred took the opportunity to clarify the position.

“The One Plan is about being number one across all aspects of our operations and business and get everyone in the company fully engaged in doing their part,” he said.

As far as the UK market is concerned, Aldred said the goal was not necessarily to be number one in terms of overall vehicle sales.

“Our goal is to be number one in retail and true fleet,” he said. “That’s where we would be hitting profitability targets and where we want to be improving our business. Sales volumes can perhaps be manipulated to be top of the [overall] pile, but we are focused on profitability and margin. It’s not just about volume.”

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Aldred said that Vauxhall is well positioned in terms of product cycles to hit its goals. “We have a great portfolio of products,” he said. “As well as the Adam, we have a new city car coming and that will give us a real boost, along with the new engines that are now coming on stream.”

Aldred added that a redesigned Corsa is due by the end of this year and there’s a new UK-built Astra next year.

“Vauxhall really is in great shape,” he said. “And the exchange rate has even worked in our favour lately.”

Aldred was also upbeat about prospects for the UK car market. “The UK car market is performing well above expectations,” he said. “Some forecasters have been cautious about where the 2014 market will turn out, but we believe the signs are good for another year of strong growth, the car market likely to be up by at least 5%.”

Aldred, 43, is about to take up a new role in the US as vice president of Buick-GMC, responsible for the US market Sales, Service and Marketing of these brands.