general Motors is a business that describes itself as ‘tradition rich’, yet the method it’s been going about its business in recent years, since its much publicised post-bankruptcy restructure, has been anything however traditional.
Let’s begin with the administration – making Mary Barra CEO as well as Dan Ammann president was the begin of some truly strong thinking.
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Having ridden up the hill at Goodwood alongside Ammann, I caught up with him once again at the recent Paris show. Ammann joined GM’s finance team from investment bank Morgan Stanley, however his enthusiasm for the cars as well as innovation is catching. He talked to me with excellent enthusiasm about GM’s new variety of engines that show the business isn’t only playing catch-up, it’s taking a lead – as our drive of the new Vauxhall Corsa shows.
GM is led in Europe by Karl-Thomas Neumann, who joined from VW – a unusual jump previously. as well as when it concerned appointing a new MD for Vauxhall, GM once again took the unusual step of looking outside as well as appointed Tim Tozer, with vast experience of Japanese brands as well as dealers.
So exactly how does that impact you as well as the Vauxhalls you may buy? Simple: there’s a higher focus on what UK clients really want, rather than the previous Europe-wide one-size-fits-all approach. see the decision to revive the Viva name for Vauxhall’s city car, rather than utilize Opel’s name. Let’s be honest, a Vauxhall Karl just sounds silly.
And so to the Corsa – introducing in the UK with Vauxhall badges at the exact same time the Opel version is being introduced on the continent (another rarity), it features special Vauxhall settings to much better fit our needs. as well as it works! Roll on next year’s UK-built Vauxhall Astra. On this form, it should be great.
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