This tells you what PSA is since these European conglomerates are never memorable in their makeup to a typical American:
Really they are all like that. FCA and VW to make two other large ones that own more brands than you first realize.PSA Group runs the Peugeot, Citroën, and DS car brands sold outside the U.S. Acquiring Opel would propel PSA ahead of Renault in terms of market share in Europe. With 16.3 percent of the market, PSA would come in second place just behind Volkswagen.
Anyway, my first reaction was....ok aside from profitability issues (which, being honest, is the only real reason this kind of deal would happen), I thought the Opel brand was useful to GM. Many things have come to us from the Opel division over the years. Here is a list of some of the CURRENT Opel-related vehicles. To be clear, these are either shared platforms or the majority of the engineering work was done at Opel:
- Buick Regal (Opel Insignia)
- GM Epsilon II is said to have been developed mainly by Opel - long list on this platform, such as Lacrosse, Malibu, Impala and XTS
- Saturn Astra (Opel Astra)
- Saturn L series (Opel Vectra B) and really the entire GM2900 platform, which was used famously on the late 90s/early 2000s Saab 9-3 and longer on the 9-5.
Some previous examples:
- The wiki says Opel primarily developed the J-body (really??)
- Cadillac Catera (Opel Omega)
- Wiki also says Opel primarily developed the original Epsilon platform, which was also reasonably well regarded in its time. Those vehicles include the mid-2000s Malibu, Pontiac G6, Saturn Aura and the last gen Saab 9-3.
Looking back, the best things Opel did for GM I think it is pretty obvious that it was the Epsilon and Epsilon II platforms. Epsilon was way better than the platforms it replaced (N-body, like Jamie's old Malibu and GM2900). Epsilon II made even further leaps. Actually, it was the basis for other successful modern platforms:
Fun trivia (citation needed, perhaps):E2XX
E2XX is the successor to the Epsilon II platform. It is a fork of the Epsilon II platform, consistent with other platform revamps, such as D2XX (based on Delta II).
The E2XX platform targets weight reduction, improved interior, and longer wheelbases. The E2XX is utilized in the redesigned 2016 Chevrolet Malibu.
P2XX
P2XX is the longer variant of the E2XX platform. It is expected to be used in the 2017 Buick LaCrosse and next generation Chevrolet Impala.
C1XX
C1XX is the crossover variant of the E2XX platform, replacing the Theta Premium and Lambda platforms. It underpins the 2017 Cadillac XT5 and soon to be followed the 2017 GMC Acadia in regular wheelbase form, while the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse and 2018 Buick Enclave will utilize the long wheelbase variant.
All that said, and considering the apparent dividends GM is enjoying from what started as Epsilon II, I don't quite understand why they'd want to sell. Unless profit is substandard.When the platform debuted, there was talk of an "Epsilon Wide" derivative, which was supposed to have provided the underpinnings for the Buick LaCrosse and Saab 9-5. However, the program was cancelled and the LaCrosse was put on the W platform
My other thoughts on this are that Ford Europe continues to enjoy a single brand which matters when the internet is so global, and GM is going to be even worse off from a European brand presence (this sale may include the Vauxhall brand, too). Unless they are going to do it better than Opel was doing for them. I just don't know.
EDIT: More problems. In late 2013, GM announced it will drop Chevrolet in Europe and focus on Opel/Vauxhall. Wiki also says that GM has lost, overall, about $18B in Europe. Goddamn.
You know what? Then forget it. Drop 'em.
EDIT 2: This guy seems to have a point.
Its not like anyone is going to be making big money in Europe anytime soon. The luxury brands keep going down market in search of volume. Cheap models are coming in from Asia and Eastern Europe. The small companies are all there. The big companies divide their sales by offering multiple brands. All while $10 a gallon gas makes it difficult to sell anything bigger than a bread box.
That said I think Opel sales will skyrocket as soon as PSA takes over the brand. The media may even start writing some positive stories about the brand instead of knit picking it to death as they do now.