AutoBeta(AutoBeta.net)02/13 Report--

According to the online car market report, it has been learned from Stellantis Group insiders that Opel is discussing a cooperation with Dongfeng Group and will return to the Chinese market as a domestic company in the future. Its models are co-produced with DPCA and will be built on the same platform. However, as of press time, Stellantis Group and Dongfeng Group have not responded publicly.

According to the data, Opel was founded in 1862, but at first it only made sewing machines and bicycles, but it did not start producing cars until 1899, and it was not a sub-brand of any automobile group at that time. Opel sold 80% of its shares to GM in 1929 and the remaining 20% to GM in 1931, and has since become a sub-brand of the same car, with the main market in European countries.

As the first brand to enter the Chinese market, Opel is no stranger to Chinese consumers. In 1993, Euler entered the Chinese market and successively introduced a number of products such as Yingsuya, all-new Saifei, Merina and the new Aart GTC, but because the Opel model was built on the platform of Buick, its sales in the domestic market were not hot and the market performance was not satisfactory. based on GM's global strategic layout, it decided to stop the sales business of the Opel brand in China and finally announced its withdrawal from the Chinese market in 2015. After withdrawing from China, Opel was sold to Peugeot Citroen in 2017 because of continued losses, and led Opel to turn a profit in 2018.

In fact, as early as 2019, there was news that Opel would be made in China. At that time, Citroen Group (PSA) and Fiat Chrysler Group (FCA) were seeking a merger, while Dongfeng Group, as the third largest shareholder of PSA Group, would reduce its stake in PSA to help PSA and FCA merge smoothly. It is understood that Dongfeng Group holds 12.2% of PSA Group shares, worth about 2.2 billion euros. After the merger of FCA and PSA, Dongfeng Group will own 4.5% of the new company, making it the third largest shareholder.

At that time, according to media reports, Dongfeng Group had reached an agreement with PSA Group to extend the term of the joint venture DPCA, and planned to introduce Opel to the Chinese market. If agreed, DFG would have exclusive rights to the brand and benefit from the new technology and intellectual property rights of the new company after the merger.

According to the current information, if Opel is successfully made in China, it may become a pure electric brand. It is understood that Stellantis Group has STLA S, STLA M, STLA L and STLA F new electric platforms, covering small cars, medium-sized cars, pickups and other models, with a range of 500-800km. Future Peugeot, Citroen, DS and Opel electric vehicles will be built on these platforms. According to foreign media reports, Opel is expected to launch an all-electric car Manta E around 2025 and will return to the Chinese market with an all-electric car lineup in the same year.

In July 2021, at the EV Day held by Stellantis Group, the Opel brand of the Group released the official picture of the new Manta-e concept car. As one of the classic models of the Opel brand, Manta will also fully start the electrification transformation of the Opel brand. While releasing new models, the Opel brand also makes plans for the future development of the enterprise. Opel said it would reshape its brand image to make it a younger, greener global brand. Michael Lohscheller, CEO of Opel, also said that starting from 2024, all Opel brand models will be electrified. By 2028, Opel will be fully electrified in the European market, and Opel will be the first to launch nine models this year. In addition, it also said, "We will return to China and bring 100% Opel pure electric vehicles."

At present, China is the world's largest automobile market and the largest new energy vehicle market, and Opel plans to return to China's position in the global market. Of course, it also depends on the overall strategy of the parent company Stellantis Group. It is understood that in March this year, the Stellantis Group will announce the specific measures of the China strategy, when the plans for the introduction of Opel and other brands into China may be revealed.

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