GM+Opel

[Genesis2]

Can someone please tell me why GM is starting to import cars to US?
Please respond with a intelligent thought!

Thanks

[ata]

Opel has been a part of GM since 1928, so Opel = GM, even it was founded earlier than any of the other GM brands, making it the oldest of the current GM brands (first car in 1899).

Which Opel they are importing to the US, usually GM's policy has been to use different marketing brand names in different market areas even for same or almost same cars, this is called badge engineering, and GM is a very active user of badge engineering. Cars are designed in different engineerig centers in USA and Europe and then they can badge the almost same car for different markets with a different name.

In the USA they use the traditional American brand names, also in South America they use mostly Chevrolet as the brand, in the UK they use Vauxhall as the brand name an in Australia and New Zealand they use Holden. For most of the other areas of the world (Europe, Asia, Africa) they use Opel as the brand name. There have been lots of almost identical GM cars sold all over the world with a ton of different names. They also can manufacture the cars in a couple of factories for the whole world and just badge them differently (e.g. Opel Omega = Vauxhall Omega = Cadillac Catera = Holden Commodore). Even the new Pontiac GTO shares the Opel Omega platform.

Now there is the new Opel Vectra and Opel Signum which share their platform with Saab 9-3 and the new Chevrolet Malibu. The engine was designed in the USA, the turbocharging was done by Saab and the car platform was designed in Germany by Opel. The same car is also marketed as Vauxhall Vectra, Chevrolet Vectra and Holden Vectra on different market areas...

So, this is the current status of global car design and manufacturing by big car corporations, like General Motors. The other companies are doing pretty much the same.

[kckutch]

"GM's policy has been to use different marketing brand names in different market areas even for same or almost same cars, this is called badge "engineering, and GM is a very active user of badge engineering"

You are absolutely right ata. GM has started a major influx of foreign imports to be used as American slated vehicles, i.e. the Pontiac GTO. I found some a bunch others at www.clonecars.com

[C_Sephiroth]

The New Saturn Vue has an Opel engine in it.

[Jusliwood]

GM Opel has factories in some countries of europe. If it is more cheaper build a car in europe Gm will try to build and import to US from there.