Opel and Vauxhall sale

 GENERAL MOTORS (GM) which owns the Opel and Vauxhall car brands has indicated that despite both companies turning in regular losses over the years, there is a possibility that a French group may be interested in taking them over.

The PSA Group, makers of Citroen and Peugeot cars works with GM on a number of projects in Europe and is currently the third largest manufacturer in Europe, behind Renault-Nissan which has recently recorded increased sales and Volkswagen.

Vauxhall currently employs 4,500 staff in the UK, but unions estimate that a further 30,000 people worked in occupations connected with Vauxhall and its vehicles.

The French company is partly owned by the state, but also has investment from the Peugeot family as well as a Chinese vehicle manufacturer and if a sale was to be agreed, the new company would become Europe’s number two producers of vehicles.