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Opel/Vauxhall and Renault Announce Production Location for Next-Generation Vivaro and Trafic Models
2011-03-24
Share ThisRüsselsheim/Boulogne-Billancourt. Opel/Vauxhall and Renault today announced the production locations for the next generation of the successful Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro and Renault Trafic models. Production is scheduled to start in 2013.
Production in Luton
Opel/Vauxhall confirms that the next generation Vivaro will be built at its plant in Luton, UK. Consequently, the Luton plant will continue to play an important role in the Opel/Vauxhall manufacturing network.
Production in Sandouville
Renault will produce in its plant in Sandouville the next generation of Renault Trafic model as well as the next generation of the H2 version of Opel Vivaro. As announced previously, the production of this new van in Sandouville plant is expected to reach 100,000 units/year once all versions have been launched.
A long term cooperation
Todays announcement follows the joint announcement between Opel/Vauxhall and Renault in September 2010, when both companies had agreed to continue their successful cooperation in the Light Commercial Vehicles segment.
This cooperation goes back to 1996 when the first generation of the Opel/Vauxhall Movano and Renault Master program was announced. Since then, the cooperation was expanded to also include Vivaro/Trafic, and Movano/Master are in their second joint generation. In 2010, the new generation of the Renault Master & Opel/Vauxhall Movano Van program was successfully launched with an extended model range including rear wheel drive versions and a number of factory produced specially converted vehicles.
The current Vivaro and Trafic models were first produced in 2001, and by the end of 2010 Opel/Vauxhall and Renault have built over 1.25 million Vivaro and Trafic. While the sister models are being jointly developed and produced in Opel/Vauxhall and Renault-Nissan plants, they are independently marketed and sold through the respective brands distribution channels.
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About Renault VU: Renault has been the LCV market leader in Europe for the past 13 years, and increased its market share in 2010, from 14.8% in 2009 to 15.9% in 2010. This increase was driven primarily by the launch of three new models in 2010: New Master, New Trafic and Kangoo Express Maxi. In 2010, Renault Trafic reached its best performance ever with 16.4% market share.Renaults LCV range now spans load volumes of between 2 and 22 m³, in order to meet all the needs expressed of business customers.
About Opel: Opel, one of Europe’s largest automakers, was founded 1862 in Rüsselsheim, Germany. Opel and its UK sister brand, Vauxhall, sell vehicles in over 40 countries. The company operates 11 vehicle, powertrain and component plants and 3 development centers in 6 countries, and employs around 40,000 people. (as of December 2010). In 2010, Opel sold over 1.1 million passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in Europe, achieving a market share of 6.2 percent. With the market introduction of the electric Opel Ampera by the end of 2011, Opel will found a new segment in the European automotive market and underline its role as a trendsetter for progressive mobility solutions.
