Opel to be Canadian owned (Magna) - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Bill Bumface · 09-10-2009, 12:33 PM

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If the deal is concluded, Magna will own 55% of Opel, with GM keeping 35% and Opel employees taking 10%. The two sides have a 500-page document spelling out who gets what technology and pays what royalties. It also dictates who can compete where, says a source close to the deal. GM will collect royalties if Opel uses its technology. But in the future, Opel can charge GM if its engineers create something GM uses.

http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/...910_941273.htm

Opel is another of the GM brands on the verge of a turnaround. Cars have been getting very solid reviews in recent years (Astra/Insignia) and the plan is to push them back to being slightly upscale while Chev will take care of the entry level models with mostly SE Asian manufactured cars.

If Magna can keep things going where they are headed and has pockets deep enough to ride things out, this could work very well to help hold on to some of the auto sector in Ontario.

Jimmy Stang · 09-10-2009, 12:35 PM

I like Opels and their English brand Vauxhall. We rented an Astra in the UK and it was a solid little car.

GM started to get things right by offering them as Saturns here, but of course, probably too little too late for the Saturn brand given GM's woes.

Reaper · 09-10-2009, 12:36 PM

Magnopel?

Table 5 · 09-10-2009, 12:47 PM

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It cannot sell cars in Canada until the fourth quarter of 2012 and Opel cannot sell models similar to GM's Buick cars in China until 2015, says John Smith, GM's group vice-president for business development

That's unfortunate, I was hoping to see Opel's in Canada sooner. I wonder what's happening with Saturn at that stage, and if they will still be the same car.

Reaper · 09-10-2009, 12:49 PM

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Originally Posted by Table 5

That's unfortunate, I was hoping to see Opel's in Canada sooner. I wonder what's happening with Saturn at that stage (or I guess in general)?

Saturn's done. The only remaining North American GM brands are Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac and GMC until Opel arrives.

Hack&Lube · 09-10-2009, 01:41 PM

I would like to see Opels and Vauxhalls and Holdens in Canada.

Last weekend, I saw this beautiful Opel GT in a junkyard.

3 Justin 3 · 09-10-2009, 01:53 PM

Please bring the Insignia and the Astra.

But a different topic and more importantly, when is Alfa going to come over to N.America?

I read 2012 but that isn't soon enough, I needs me some Brera.

Bill Bumface · 09-10-2009, 02:53 PM

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Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I would like to see Opels and Vauxhalls and Holdens in Canada.

Last weekend, I saw this beautiful Opel GT in a junkyard.

We have Opels and Holdens crusing around, just rebadged.

Saturn Vue (current, not the old one)= Opel Antara = Holden Captiva Maxx

Saturn Sky = Opel GT

Pontiac G8 = Holden Commodore = Vauxhall VXR8

Pontiac GTO = Holden Monaro

Table 5 · 09-10-2009, 02:59 PM

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Originally Posted by Reaper

Saturn's done. The only remaining North American GM brands are Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac and GMC until Opel arrives.

But Saturn is being sold to Penske....I would assume they wouldn't buy it to kill it.

Barnes · 09-10-2009, 03:04 PM

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Originally Posted by hulkrogan

We have Opels and Holdens crusing around, just rebadged.

Saturn Vue (current, not the old one)= Opel Antara = Holden Captiva Maxx

Saturn Sky = Opel GT

Pontiac G8 = Holden Commodore = Vauxhall VXR8

Pontiac GTO = Holden Monaro

I wondered why the G8 was giving me a boner when I saw it. It's really a VX-R8.

Hack&Lube · 09-10-2009, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

We have Opels and Holdens crusing around, just rebadged.

Saturn Vue (current, not the old one)= Opel Antara = Holden Captiva Maxx

Saturn Sky = Opel GT

Pontiac G8 = Holden Commodore = Vauxhall VXR8

Pontiac GTO = Holden Monaro

I know that, but I hate the GM badges and the GM bodies and styling.
The Opel GT just seems cooler to me than the Sky (since it's a freaking Saturn). I actually like the Sky/GT and would like an old Sky but rebadged with the correct parts from an Opel to get rid of the Saturn yuckiness and to be unique.

The Vauxhall VXR8 (Vauxhall in Britain, but Holden in Australia) is much beefier than the Pontiac G8 and the new Holden HSV GTS line is ridiculous.

Holden of Australia is what Pontiac should have been all along. Too bad GM didn't realize that until a year before killing the marque.

Hell, those crazy Australians even successfully remade the El Camino.

Bill Bumface · 09-10-2009, 03:12 PM

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Originally Posted by Barnes

I wondered why the G8 was giving me a boner when I saw it. It's really a VX-R8.

A severely awesome car that will probably have garbage resale value when the pontiac badge has been fully nuked.

Great news for us enthusiasts looking to grab one on the cheap one day!

Bill Bumface · 09-10-2009, 03:15 PM

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Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I know that, but I hate the GM badges and the GM bodies and styling.
The Opel GT is a much more beautiful car than the Sky...and the Vauxhall VXR8 (Vauxhall in Britain, but Holden in Australia) is much beefier than the Pontiac G8 and the new Holden HSV GTS line is ridiculous.

Holden of Australia is what Pontiac should have been all along. Too bad GM didn't realize that until a year before killing the marque.

Hell, those crazy Australians even successfully remade the El Camino.

That Clubsport (I think that's what the wagon is called?) is freaking awesome too!

Not too sure what you mean about the Opel GT being "much more beautiful" than the Sky though...

Vs.

Hack&Lube · 09-10-2009, 03:16 PM

I would love to take a G8 and replace all the parts with the proper VXR8 body panels and badges but that would probably be very difficult to get them all.

Hack&Lube · 09-10-2009, 03:17 PM

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Originally Posted by hulkrogan

That Clubsport (I think that's what the wagon is called?) is freaking awesome too!

Not too sure what you mean about the Opel GT being "much more beautiful" than the Sky though...

Sorry, I've edited my post to clarify. Basically it's more beautiful "in my head" (lol yeah) since it's an Opel and not a Saturn. I had a mental image of the Pontiac version too. It's just the brand and the logo as I have an involuntary gag reflex when I hear of Saturn or any GM brand.

Solstice:

Bill Bumface · 09-10-2009, 05:03 PM

^I completely agree about Sky vs. Solstice. The Solstice is a butchered piece of crap and I can never understand why someone would buy that over a Sky.

Table 5 · 11-06-2009, 01:36 PM

Well, as we all probably know now, GM has withdrawn from selling to Magna. Today, they announced that Bob Putz will be taking over as chairman of Opel.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/bre...irman-of-opel/

Nothing works in turning around a failing company like the addition of some young blood at the top.

3 Justin 3 · 11-06-2009, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

Well, as we all probably know now, GM has withdrawn from selling to Magna. Today, they announced that Bob Putz will be taking over as chairman of Opel.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/bre...irman-of-opel/

Nothing works in turning around a failing company like the addition of some young blood at the top.

Worked for TVR. Not.

Table 5 · 11-06-2009, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

Worked for TVR. Not.

77 is the new 30!

metallicat · 11-06-2009, 02:16 PM

We need a real Canadian car company here, one that designs cars specifically for our cold climate. I have plenty of improvement ideas for cars to make them more ideal for our winter driving.