Opel

The New Opel Wagon in Elegant Sportswear

Rüsselsheim -- Due to be unveiled at Paris Motor Show (October 4-19), Opel’s new station wagon offers leading technologies wrapped in a sporty, premium body and reflects this in its name: Insignia Sports Tourer.

2009 Opel Insignia Sports Tourer

Highlights:
* Insignia’s third body variant to debut at Paris Motor Show
* Introducing two additional engines, available for entire Insignia family

Opel Insignia: Four-door notchback and five-door hatchback

Rüsselsheim/London, 2008-07-03 -- Opel will showcase to the public for the first time at the British International Motor Show (July 23 – August 3) both the four-door notchback and five-door hatchback versions of its new flagship car, the Opel Insignia.

2009 Opel Insignia Hatchback

Highlights:
* Choice between equally elegant and dynamic notchback and hatchback
* Sleek, aerodynamic body has class-leading Cd value of 0.27
* The New Opel Insignia notchback and hatchback on sale before the end of the year

GM market share estimated 2 points above May and up slightly compared with June 2007

DETROIT, 2008-07-01 – General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) today announced June sales results, highlighted by an 8 percent rise in retail car sales and continued strong performance in crossovers. Despite the significant decline of industry market volume and the limited availability of some of GM’s most popular models, GM dealers in the United States delivered 265,937 vehicles in June, down 8 percent (18.5 percent unadjusted). Truck sales declined 6 percent.

2008 Chevrolet Cobalt Sport

Highlights:

Opel Cars Can See

Rüsselsheim, 2008-06-18 -- Opel introduces a first: A camera that aids drivers in two different ways. The Traffic Sign Recognition function reads speed limit and no-passing signs and displays them on the instrument panel. The Lane Departure Warning alerts drivers when they unintentionally veer out of their lane. Together, these two systems improve driving safety, reduce stress and can even prevent costly speeding tickets.

Opel Eye

Highlights:
* Leading Technology: Two-in-one system available early 2009
* Opel Eye informs drivers about speed limits; warns when they veer out of their lane
* First in Opel Insignia and soon in other models

Ruesselsheim to add next Astra Generation, Trollhättan builds Saab 9-3

Ruesselsheim, 2008-06-20 -- Today, GME President Carl-Peter Forster announced two significant production allocations at an all employee meeting in Ruesselsheim, Germany. The plant in Ruesselsheim, Germany, now preparing for the production launch of the new Opel Insignia, will also manufacture the next generation Astra coming into market as of 2010. Other GME compact car plants are Bochum, Germany, Ellesmere Port, UK, Gliwice, Poland and Trollhättan, Sweden. The production of the next generation SAAB 9-3 has been allocated to the plant in Trollhättan.

Rüsselsheim, 2008-05-29 -- Twelve months ago, the eight OPC Race Camp finalists were simply engineers, students, sales representatives or dentists. Following their baptism of fire in this year’s 24-hour Nürburgring race, they are now also true racing drivers. They can look back on an exciting year of castings, racing driver trainings and increasingly challenging motorsport races. Professional racing car driver Manuel Reuter, who developed the project with Opel, trained the team from the very first day.

Converted Opel Astra OPC for the 24-hour Nürburgring race

Highlights:
- Exciting finale to world’s first racing driver talent search by Opel

* Premiere: Opel Insignia is first model to bear revised emblem
* Tradition: “Blitz” lightning bolt has adorned Opel cars for 45 years

Rüsselsheim, 2008-05-20 -- A fresh, bold car requires an equally striking emblem. So when the Insignia debuts in July at the London Motor Show it will sport a refined logo that heralds a new era for Opel in innovation, technology and design.

Refined Opel Logo Expresses Brand's New Confidence

Higher output and torque with lower consumption and emissions

Rüsselsheim, 2008-05-15 -- In 2009, Opel will introduce one new 1.6-liter turbo CNG engine (Compressed Natural Gas) with around 110 kW/150 hp and 210 Nm of torque. Developed by GM Powertrain in Turin, the new unit joins Opel’s current aspirated CNG engine, which has the same displacement and an output of 69 kW/94 hp.

Opel Zafira 1.6 CNG

1.4-Liter Turbo for Global Applications and 1.6-Liter CNG Turbo To Debut in Opel Zafira

Turin, Italy, 2008-05-15 – General Motors Corp. (GM) will introduce, starting in 2009, two new engines with significant fuel efficiency gains for vehicles marketed in Europe and other regions. The announcement was made this week at a GM Powertrain Europe event showcasing its comprehensive line-up of advanced propulsion technologies currently under development.

The 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine will be used in vehicles worldwide starting in 2010. The 1.6-liter Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) turbocharged 4-cylinder engine will be introduced in the Opel Zafira in 2009. Both engines are new variants of GM’s existing engine families used globally.

Rüsselsheim, 2008-05-15 -- As the testing and preparations for the eight best OPC Race Camp candidates comes to an end, attention turns to the final showdown. At 3 p.m. on May 24, the final candidates will be put to the ultimate test in the 36th ADAC Zürich 24-hour race. The legendary endurance race on the famous Nürburgring-Nordschleife will be under the toughest competitive conditions.

Opel Astra OPC Race Camp at Finale of 24-hour Nürburgring-Nordschleife

Highlights:
# Opel breaks new ground in motorsport with world’s first racing driver talent search
# 8 out of 18,500 applicants make up Opel works team for world’s toughest motor race

- More than 500,000 Opel Astras sold last year in Europe alone
- Diverse model range has something for everyone

Rüsselsheim / Bochum, 2008-05-14 – The 10 millionth Opel Astra rolled off the assembly line today in Bochum, Germany – a Silver Lightning Astra Station Wagon 1.7 CDTI equipped with special features to celebrate this extraordinary production milestone.

2008 Opel Astra 5-door

With more than 500,000 models sold last year in Europe alone, Astra is the absolute best-selling car in the Opel palette and follows in the footsteps of Opel’s Kadett and the brand’s tradition of building quality compact cars.

* Rocket age began in May 1928 on Berlin’s AVUS racetrack
* Von Opel successfully flies a rocket-propelled airplane a year later

Rüsselsheim, 2008-05-07 -- Before the eyes of 3000 invited guests, the rocket age began May 23, 1928 at Berlin’s AVUS race track.

That was the day, with a long plume of fire and smoke burning behind his shiny black cigar-shaped race car outfitted with two massive wings to keep the machine grounded, Fritz von Opel set a speed record for rocket-propelled cars, hitting an estimated 238 km/h in his RAK 2.

Retail Car Sales Up 6 Percent

DETROIT, 2008-05-01 -- GM dealers in the United States delivered 260,922 vehicles in April. Retail car and crossover sales were up more than 9 percent. A sharp sales increase in fuel efficient cars and crossovers could not make up for soft truck demand and a sharp decline in fleet deliveries impacted by the American Axle strike. On a non-adjusted basis, retail sales were down 11.5 percent and total sales for the month were down 16 percent.

Highlights:
* Chevrolet Car Retail Sales Up 24 Percent Led By a 147 Percent Increase in Malibu, 17 Percent Rise in Cobalt, 13 Percent Increase in Aveo and 8 Percent Hike in Impala Sales
* Pontiac Retail Car Sales Up 6 Percent With a 39 Percent Increase in Vibe, 3 Percent Climb in G5 and G6 Sales

Rüsselsheim 2008-04-30 -- General Motors Europe will invest a total of €9 billion into Opel through 2012, thus strengthening its core brand. €6.5 billion alone will be spent on the development of new vehicles and propulsion systems. In addition, the company is investing considerably into its German plants, Rüsselsheim, Bochum, Kaiserslautern and Eisenach.

Highlights:
* Product offensive with 20 new models
* Growth strategy for German market
* Contracts for the future to safeguard production locations
* Extended-range electric vehicle being developed

Fishies, Flimmies and the art of misdirection

Rüsselsheim, 2008-04-23 -- Camouflage and disguise are all important when new model prototypes first leave the well-protected confines of the design studio or workshop and head out onto the test track or open road. Although a great deal of today’s vehicle proving can be conducted in advance by computer simulation or on the test bench, there inevitably comes the day when all test results have to be validated, and the car must be released into its natural habitat – the road.

Camouflaged Opel Insignia during track testing at Dudenhofen Test Center

China premiere of Opel Astra Notchback, Flextreme concept car at 2008 Beijing Motor Show and Opel to expand dealerships to meet demand

Beijing/Rüsselsheim, 2008-04-21 -- Opel will present the Astra sedan for the first time in China at the 2008 Beijing Motor Show (2008 Auto China), adding to the palette of the five cars already on offer and promising to further increase the popularity of Opel cars in this high growth market.

Opel Flextreme Concept: Premieres at 2008 Beijing Motor Show

A New Design Language For A New Era

Rüsselsheim, 2008-04-18 -- A new name, a new car, a new ambition. With its groundbreaking design and sophisticated technology, the Insignia makes a quantum leap toward rejuvenating the brand and providing the perfect opportunity to discover Opel. The styling of the new 4.83 meter five-seater clearly expresses Opel’s strategy to make advanced technology and attractive design affordable.

2009 Opel Insignia: Groundbreaking design and sophisticated technology: The new Opel Insignia. The car will make its world premiere July 22 at the London Motor Show. (© General Motors)

Highlights:
# Sculpted design with a flowing coupé silhouette

805,720 In First Quarter

DETROIT, 2008-04-01 – GM dealers in the United States delivered 282,732 vehicles in March, a decrease of 13 percent when compared with the same month a year ago. For the first three months of 2008, GM total sales of 805,720 vehicles were down 11 percent compared with a year ago. Retail share appears to have remained stable throughout the month and the quarter.

March Highlights

* Chevrolet Car Retail Sales Up 6 Percent Led By A 122 Percent Increase in Malibu and a 16 Percent Increase in Impala Sales
* Cadillac Retail Car Sales Up 22 Percent with a 43 Percent Increase in CTS and 6 Percent Increase in DTS
* Strong Retail Month at Saturn with Aura Up 25 Percent, Vue Up 18 Percent and Outlook Up 14 Percent, offsetting Ion

2008-03-03, Geneva -- Opel presents one world premiere and a host of new products at the 78th International Motor Show (March 6 - 16, 2008) in Geneva.

Highlights:
* World premiere: Opel Meriva concept car with innovative “FlexDoors” door solution
* Monocab initiative: New-edition Opel Zafira and completely new Opel Agila ready to go
* ecoFLEX variants are highlights of current Opel model year

New Opel Agila: Friendly, Dynamic, Flexible