Three new Vauxhalls to spur growth

Vauxhall’s new car launches over the next two years will allow it to challenge at the forefront of British car sales, according to outgoing boss Duncan Aldred.

The new Vauxhall Corsa is expected to be unveiled later this year, followed by a replacement for the Vauxhall Agila city car in early 2015 and a new Vauxhall Astra in late 2015. A Chevrolet Spark-based budget car - a rival to the Dacia Sandero - is also expected to be launched.

“The focus for the past few years has been on getting the business profitable,” said Aldred, who has been promoted by parent company GM to head up the sales, service and marketing divisions of the hugely profitable GMC and Buick brands. 

“At Vauxhall we’ve made strides, and boosted the brand through associations such as the Lifetime Warranty and sponsorship of home nations football. In Europe, last year we grew market share for the first time in 14 years, and cut our losses. All told it has been a good few years for Vauxhall and the company as a whole.

Aldred launched Vauxhall’s ‘One Plan’ last year, with the goal of overtaking Ford’s UK sales leadership by 2016. Ford currently holds around 14 per cent of UK market share, with Vauxhall at 11 per cent. He admitted the statement had been controversial, but said he believed the goal was still possible.

“The One Plan caused some interest, but the reason I said it was because - after some difficult years - I feel we are ready to challenge at the front again, especially with the portfolio we have coming.”