Peugeot / Vauxhall deal

[Welly]

You've probably heard about Peugeot's talks with GM to buy their European business?

I saw the below posting on another forum and thought it was all summed up rather well:

Phase 1. Join together two losers, financed by Dongfeng in China and the French Govt then go hunting for massive economies of scale - more shared platforms, technology, supply chain etc. Look to remove overcapacity in production, which will be prevented by the Unions in Germany and the Unions and Govt in France. Turn guns on Ellesmere Port and Luton and use handily available Brexit excuse. British Govt will make some wimpering and huffing and puffing noises but that will be about the extent of it.

Phase 2. Continue process indefinitely whilst Koreans/Skoda whittle away at the cheap end of your market and 'premium' Germans encroach from above. Waste money trying to push DS as a premium brand. Launch Mokka in Iran to punish them for nuclear programme

Phase 3. Run out of money again in about five years. Govt steps in again. Continue cycle with maybe added Renault or FCA or both.

Source: http://autoshite.com/topic/27218-peugeo ... hall-opel/

[Doggy]

Launch Mokka in Iran to punish them for nuclear programme

Oh Yes!

[deMarcel]

Peugeot is actually in (partly) good order again. Sales are going upwards too. The same can't be said about Opel though. Peugeot announced that Sochaux will be completely renewed with newest technology to increase production possibilities and economy.

We'll see, I guess.

LOL on the Iran sentence!

[trufflehunt]

Must say, I thought Renault have being doing quite well, for example, with Dacia their budget brand.

I think, in the short to medium term, the UK government will do the various backroom nudges and winks,
and promises ( like they did with Nissan ), and/or something along the lines what has been done with the steelworkers
at Port Talbot...Basically hold a gun to the heads of the employees to accept a reduction in pay or pensions, and/or rob
pension funds to enable the owners to avoid the commitments.

In Germany, car manufacturers have long had the support of the banking system, both nationally and in the states.
( As compared with the banking system that has failed in this country, which has existed only to feed itself on the rest of the economy )
In Japan, postwar, although it was acclaimed as a new democracy, in reality the government was essentially a tool of the heavy
industrialists, and the goal was to apply all effort to rebuild the Japanese economy.

I used to live a mile up the road from the Ford Transit factory in Eastleigh, Hampshire. That closed a few years ago, when Ford decided
they could make more profits by making Transits in Turkey. They did so with the aid of EU funding, and money from taxpayers in this country.

Whatever one's position on Brexit (I'm Remain ), I believe this kind of behaviour has become increasingly unacceptable in this country.

[Welly]

Well said.

I believe more and more that one day when all the Investment Bankers and City Traders are sat on a private beach somewhere with a smug look about them we'll all be sat here thinking a collective "Oh sh*t" when we finally acknowledge we've been fed a lifetime of lies and half truths and are then expected to fend for ourselves.

On the news last night they were saying that UK Vauxhall Plants run at 70% capacity or something. That's ok because the rest of the 30% can get busy making Peugeot Cars over here and increase employment. Place yer bets........

[OllieNZ]

On the news last night they were saying that UK Vauxhall Plants run at 70% capacity or something. That's ok because the rest of the 30% can get busy making Peugeot Cars over here and increase employment. Place yer bets........

If the govt whacks a decent import duty on car imports it would incentivise manufacturers to produce cars locally...... iirc the yanks do this and all the Japanese manufacturers are building their cars in the states for the US domestic market.

[Doggy]

With my rarely used strategic hat on, I would say Peugeot are looking to:

1. Remove competition from GM
2. Establish some manufacturing capability in the UK to get easier access for imports and exports across the channel regardless of how Brexit turns out
3. Grab some cheap assets before the rest of the vultures gather.

(Not necessarily in that order).

[Welly]

These car makers benefit from 'buying' the R&D carried out by the competitor who made significant investments and technological advancements in the process.

Expect to see them 'Matrix' headlamps on all Peugeot's soon......

Ooh just thought; a Vauxhall that's actually comfy to sit in.....that'll be nice.

[dirtydirtydiesel]

Welly, l had a vectra gsi 15 years ago , them Recaros were really comfortable
Went well to with a host of Courtney sport mods, but oh so heavy on super unleaded

[steve_earwig]

And that doesn't spend half its life in the garage? I suspect that mainly applies to cars also badged as Chevrolets, which are getting a reputation for being (what's the technical term? Ah yes) shitboxes.