Are Opel and Vauxhall the same?
So, to summarise, Vauxhall is called Opel in Europe because that is where the cars are manufactured. While Vauxhall will make a few adjustments here and there, the overall design, for the most part, is identical. Yes, Vauxhall is a British brand, but the car itself is German. It was owned by the American automaker General Motors from 1929 until 2017 and the PSA Group prior to its merger with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to form Stellantis in 2021. Most of the Opel lineup is marketed under the Vauxhall brand in the United Kingdom since the 1980s.So, to summarise, Vauxhall is called Opel in Europe because that is where the cars are manufactured. While Vauxhall will make a few adjustments here and there, the overall design, for the most part, is identical. Yes, Vauxhall is a British brand, but the car itself is German.Vauxhall became a subsidiary of PSA Group in 2017, and later, its successor Stellantis in January 2021, having previously been owned by General Motors since 1925. Vauxhall is one of the oldest established vehicle manufacturers and distribution companies in the United Kingdom.Next Generation Vauxhall and Opel Engine Opel and Vauxhall will take on the global responsibility for the development of the next-generation of high-efficiency petrol engines for all Groupe PSA brands (Vauxhall, Opel, Peugeot, Citroën, and DS Automobiles) at its engineering centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany.The GM Family I is a straight-four piston engine that was developed by Opel, a former subsidiary of General Motors and now a subsidiary of PSA Group, to replace the Vauxhall OHV, Opel OHV and the smaller capacity Opel CIH engines for use on small to mid-range cars from Opel/Vauxhall.
Why does the UK call Opel Vauxhall?
Ultimately, the only differences between Vauxhall and Opel is the locational branding and market-specific adaptations. Vauxhall branded cars are only sold in the UK, whereas Opel distribute to the rest of Europe through their own branding and ever so slightly different designs. Opel is still headquartered in Rüsselsheim am Main. The company designs, engineers, manufactures, and distributes Opel-branded passenger vehicles, light commercial vehicles, and vehicle parts; together with its British sister marque Vauxhall, they are present in over 60 countries around the world.Yes, Opel and Vauxhall cars are essentially the same with the only difference being their brand names. Both, Opel and Vauxhall are subsidiaries of the parent brand Stellantis. In Europe, cars are sold under the name Opel while in the UK, cars are sold under the brand name Vauxhall.In Ireland Vauxhall is known as Opel. If the brand was known as Opel in the UK people would be fuming, outraged and offended and become more xenophobic.Opel, founded in 1862 in Germany, has long been known as a manufacturer of accessible, mass-market vehicles 2 . Its cars are designed for everyday drivers who prioritize value, reliability, and modern technology over luxury branding.
Is Vauxhall a luxury brand?
Vauxhall Motors Overview It sells passenger cars, EVs, and commercial vehicles. Vauxhall was a luxury car brand before being acquired by GM in 1925, after which it became a mid-market maker. Vauxhall cars are very similar to those made by Opel and are frequently manufactured by the same factory. While for much of its life Vauxhall was owned by an American giant and is today owned by a French-Italian conglomerate, the company has remained steadfastly British in operation and outlook. And Vauxhall has always been a very high-profile maker, routinely battling over the top of the UK car sales charts with Ford.The car is known as the Vauxhall Corsa in the United Kingdom. Before General Motors sold Opel and Vauxhall to PSA Group in 2017, the Corsa was also rebadged under the Chevrolet, Holden and Buick brands. The Corsa was once the best-selling car in the world in 1998, recording 910,839 sales.GM finally let go of its European brands in 2015, when Vauxhall and Opel were acquired by Peugeot and Citroën owner PSA Group. In 2021, PSA merged with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Vauxhall became one of the eight mainstream brands in the giant that is the Stellantis Group.Ultimately, the only differences between Vauxhall and Opel is the locational branding and market-specific adaptations. Vauxhall branded cars are only sold in the UK, whereas Opel distribute to the rest of Europe through their own branding and ever so slightly different designs.