Auto News 5

BMW's independent streak, Opel's loan bid and extra shifts plus the effects of a certain chancellor's 'Austerity Budget' on the autobiz drew the crowds to j-a this past week. Full story...

BMW's independent streak, Opel's loan bid and extra shifts plus the effects of a certain chancellor's 'Austerity Budget' on the autobiz drew the crowds to j-a this past week. Full story...

Opel\Vauxhall CEO Nick Reilly has said he was baffled by criticism from competitors surrounding the automaker's recent application for European government loan guarantees. Full story...

Opel may return to profitability in 2011 and will work to win back the image that has been tarnished by months of uncertainty, CEO Nick Reilly said. Speaking at the Automotive News Europe Congress, Reilly said a profit for General Motor Co.' Full story...

Opel unit overtook Fiat as the top discounter in Germany last month as the brand seeks to halt a slide in sales. Opel dealers' discounts in May averaged 12.8 percent off the list price, undercutting the 12. Full story...

GM is remaining tight-lipped as to the identity of any potential new investors for its troubled Opel site in Antwerp. Full story...

Vauxhall and Opel plants across continental Europe and England are introducing extra shifts ahead of this year's planned summer shutdown. Full story...

So what story drew the largest just-auto audience this week, perchance? Opel's financial disappointment? Nope. Big Chinese vote of confidence in the UK's R&D skills? Uh-uh. Maybe the ongoing tiff over where the Panda will be built, covered, after hours on the phone to multiple unions and Fiat by our tenacious reporter Simon Warburton? Nah. You wanted to know instead all about how Nissan plans to make its quiet new EV noisier. Must be summer... Full story...

Opel/Vauxhall expects its Astra compact car range to get a big sales boost with the addition of a station wagon variant that will launch in Europe in November, a month after its debut at the Paris auto show. The wagon, which the General Motors Co. Full story...

GM's decision to withdraw all loan guarantee applications for its Opel/Vauxhall operations in Europe has been welcomed by the UK government. Full story...

Today's (16 June) decision by Opel to turn to its parent for a substantial cheque of up to EUR1.8bn (US$2.2bn) will more than ruffle feathers Stateside. Full story...

Opel/Vauxhall has blamed continuing delays in loan guarantee applications for its abrupt decision to terminate all requests for European State assistance today (16 June) and turn to the US parent for help. Full story...

Opel/Vauxhall's decision to withdraw all applications for government loan guarantees across Europe will now see the automaker fund all requirements internally. Full story...

GM will fund a restructuring of Opel/Vauxhall without state aid after the automaker decided to withdraw applications for government loan guarantees from European governments. GM plans a 3. Full story...

General Motors has pulled its European applications for Opel loan guarantees and says it will fund all requirements internally Full story...

German Länder involved in potentially providing Opel with assistance have ruled out direct financial grants, but are mulling loan guarantees. Full story...

A casual obsever of Germany's Länder (or regional states) government system could be forgiven for thinking it involved labyrinthine layers of complexity and duplication. Full story...

Opel will now look to establish concrete talks with four German Länder following confirmation the regions will support the GM division. Full story...

Opel has approached the European Investment Bank (EIB) with the potential to secure up to EUR800m (US$971m) in loans. Full story...

Germany has rejected General Motors Co.'s request for state aid for its Opel/Vauxhall unit, placing the burden of support on four German states which host Opel plants. Full story...