Magna wants to build Opels in Canada, possibly to supply Saturn?
2010 Opel Astra - Click above for a high-res image gallery
Over the last several years, and until General Motors' finances dictated that the Saturn brand had to be dispensed with entirely, it had become the North American outlet for Opel vehicles. Aside from the Outlook, all of Saturn's current models are based on their Opel equivalents. The most recent speculation about Saturn's fate had the dealer network being taken over by Roger Penske with a future vehicle supply coming from Renault via its South Korean subsidiary.
With this weekend's agreement in principle that supplier Magna International would take over control Opel, those speculative plans could be about to change. Magna chairman Frank Stronach told the Globe and Mail he wants to see Opel vehicles built in Canada. While Penske -- or any other Saturn suitor -- might have preferred to source future vehicles from Opel, getting them from Europe would prohibitively expensive with a weak dollar. However, if vehicles are sourced from a Canadian facility, it could become a viable prospect. The problem is Magna doesn't have a car assembly plant in Canada, but several Canadian plants are either scheduled to close or are without future product commitments, so Magna could end up buying a factory like the Oshawa truck plant from GM or even Chrysler.
Gallery: 2010 Opel Astra
[Source: Globe and Mail]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
BLS 8:17AM (6/01/2009)
This is such great news. What an opportunity for MAGNA. I have said it before but I will say it again. Bring on the MILA EV.
Also, Saturn please bring the Meriva.
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B M 8:20AM (6/01/2009)
Good news :) Opel recent designs are very good and hi-tech. I wouldn't mind if they were sold in US and Canada. I wish them best.
I'm even considering buying this new Astra above when OPC (Opel Performance Center) version will be announced.
Regards,
BM
http://anti-toyota.com
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Dab 8:29AM (6/01/2009)
Your website sort of sucks. Why do you plug it here?
ronEbear 8:32AM (6/01/2009)
Does BM stand for Bowel Movements?
B M 8:39AM (6/01/2009)
don't like it... don't have to visit...
cheers!
Avinash machado 8:27AM (6/01/2009)
Hopefully they won't run into problems with the CAW if they buy an old GM or Chrysler factory.
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Evan 8:30AM (6/01/2009)
Why does Opel have to be re-badged as Saturn for Americans? Just sell them as Opel! Volkswagen, Mazda, and even Hyundai cars are sold using their real brand name. And it's not like the "Saturn" name brings with it a positive reputation, after years of selling plastic-clad Z-body crap.
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Brill 8:32AM (6/01/2009)
i'm guess because more american's know the saturn name then opel.
Mr.K 8:16AM (6/03/2009)
More americans knowing the Saturn name isn't necessarily a good thing.
GM 9:08AM (6/01/2009)
YES! Thank you, I was going to post the same thing. Call me a snob, but although I like the recent Saturn offerings, I would never buy it because of its history (same with Hyundai, but that's a different story). The idea that Americans don't know what an Opel is or that Americans don't buy small, sporty cars is BS. Americans didn't know Lexus, Acura, Scion, etc. until recently. A clean slate is exactly what some companies need. Europeans don't buy small cars just because they're small, they buy them because they're well made and sporty. Bring the Opel brand, positioned exactly like VW, maybe 2.5-5% cheaper. And do everyone a favor, don't basterdize a design by adding a trunk to a hatchback--it just looks awful.
jsjs 10:32AM (6/01/2009)
@ GM
Uhh, it's not like VWs sell like gangbusters here in the US - and speaking of history, VW started out peddling the lowly bug and Toyota, Nissan/Datsun and Honda similarly were light years from where they are now.
Silly Pickle 8:31AM (6/01/2009)
That car looks soo good in those pics...even if it's a dog compared to say a Mazda 3...I'd still want one just to wash it...that smily faced 3 is hard to love. I'm supposedly too old to be in the demographics for this kind of car...but I don't care. It looks like a winner. If it were built in Canada by a Canadian company...all the more reason to buy one! Buy Canadian! Even better if they'd bring over or build the diesel here too. Small cars are King in Canda - this thing'd sell here. I can feeeel it. Can you?
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bssplayr 8:37AM (6/01/2009)
'Atta boy, Frank.
Mr. Stronach has demonstrated that he not only knows what he's doing business-wise, but cares about his community as well. This move shows that he wants the automotive industry in Canada - his adopted country.
As far as problems with the CAW in a former GM/Chrysler facility - I don't see why there would be any connection - wouldn't a sale from an entity in bankruptcy protection void all union contracts, leaving the new owner free to conduct business as he wishes?
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Judy Zik 2:17PM (6/01/2009)
Magna isn't afraid of the Unions.
http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?k=56568&id=caf03f09-3e08-49ec-b508-902520aed93a
They have allowed the CAW in they just don't let them run the show.
I wish him luck. The best fit for him would be Chrysler's Brampton plant but I don't see them putting it up for sale any time soon. I suspect though that he wont have much trouble getting government assistance to set up his own plant.
This all depends on the future ownership of Saturn though. I also wonder how happy GM will be having to compete with it's own product line? There is also the hurdle of the Germans who wont be happy seeing job losses at home and a new Canadian plant open.
I love the idea of a Canadian Car Company but there are too many factors involved for me to get excited and I am worried it will all rely on our tax dollars to happen.
Gary Lowe 9:03AM (6/01/2009)
And if that plan doesn't work, Malcolm Bricklin can sell them as hydrogen powered cars in Iraq. And if that plan doesn't work.....
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rygar 9:04AM (6/01/2009)
I thought the Aura was based on the Malibu platform? Or do they both share a "world-platform"?
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Noah 11:28AM (6/01/2009)
The Aura came here before the current gen Malibu. They were on different platforms pre 2008, I believe, but are now on one architecture. Though tuned very differently.
montoym 12:51PM (6/01/2009)
The Aura was always built on the same platform as the new Malibu, we just recieved the Aura first. Both are built on the Epsilon platform. It is most certainly a "world platform"
Here are the models that have and utilize the Epsilon platform, from wikipedia:
Current vehicles based on this platform:
Regular
2002 Opel Vectra
2003 Saab 9-3
2004 Chevrolet Malibu
2006 Cadillac BLS
Extended
2003 Opel Signum
2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
2005 Pontiac G6
2005 Fiat Croma
2007 Saturn Aura
2008 Chevrolet Malibu
Blake Luttrell 11:09AM (6/01/2009)
It would be hilarious and amazing if even after this whole GM fiasco, Saturn STILL ended up selling rebadged Opels.
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Matthew 11:27AM (6/01/2009)
I don't think it would be hilarious, i think it would be good.