Vauxhall Motors - wikipedia Vauxhall Motors For the football team, see Vauxhall Motors F.C. Vauxhall Motors Limited Trading name Vauxhall Type Limited company Industry Automotive Predecessor Alex Wilson and Company ( 1857 ) Vauxhall Iron Works ( 1897 ) Founded 1857 ; 161 years ago ( 1857 ) Founder Alexander Wilson Headquarters Luton, Bedfordshire, England Number of locations Two manufacturing facilities in the United Kingdom Area served United Kingdom Key people Stephen Norman Chairman and managing director Products Automobiles Commercial vehicles Production output 118,182 ( 2016 passenger cars ) Services Vehicle financing Revenue £ 3,837 million ( 2014 ) Operating income - £ 48.7 million ( 2014 ) Net income £ 9.2 million ( 2014 ) Owner General Motors ( 1925 -- 2017 ) Groupe PSA ( 2017 -- present ) Number of employees 4,029 ( 2011 ) Parent Opel Automobile GmbH Divisions VXR, GSi Website vauxhall.co.uk Footnotes / references Vauxhall Motors Limited ( / ˈvɒksɔːl / ) is a British automaker that is a fully owned subsidiary of German automaker Opel, which in turn is owned by Groupe PSA of France ( parent of Peugeot, Citroën and DS ). Vauxhall 's vehicle lineup is identical to that of its parent, Opel, with the difference being that the Vauxhall brand is exclusively used in the United Kingdom. Vauxhall is one of the oldest established vehicle manufacturers and distribution companies in the United Kingdom and has its headquarters in Park Town, Luton, Bedfordshire, England. Vauxhall sells passenger cars and light commercial vehicles under the Vauxhall marque ; in the past it has also sold buses and trucks under the Bedford brand. Vauxhall has been the second - largest - selling car brand in the UK for more than two decades. Vauxhall was founded by Alexander Wilson in 1857 as a pump and marine engine manufacturer. It was bought in 1863 by Andrew Betts Brown who began producing travelling cranes. It was he who named it Vauxhall Iron Works. It began manufacturing cars in 1903. It was acquired by American automaker General Motors ( GM ) in 1925. Bedford Vehicles was established as a subsidiary of Vauxhall in 1930 to manufacture commercial vehicles. Having previously been a luxury car brand, after the Second World War Vauxhall became increasingly mass - market. Since 1980, Vauxhall products have been largely identical to those of Opel, GM 's former German subsidiary, and most models are principally engineered in Rüsselsheim, Germany. During the 1980s the Vauxhall brand was withdrawn from sale in all countries apart from the UK, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man. At various times during its history, Vauxhall has been active in motorsports, including rallying and the British Touring Car Championship. After 92 years under GM 's helm, Vauxhall was sold to Groupe PSA in 2017. Vauxhall has major manufacturing facilities in Luton ( commercial vehicles, IBC Vehicles ) and Ellesmere Port, UK ( passenger cars ). The Luton plant currently employs around 900 staff and has a capacity of approximately 100,000 units. The Ellesmere Port plant currently employs around 1,880 staff and has a theoretical ( three - shift ) capacity of approximately 187,000 units. Vehicles manufactured in Opel factories in Germany, Spain and Poland and sold in the UK are re-branded as Vauxhall. Notable former Vauxhall production cars include the Viva, Victor, Chevette and Cavalier. The current car range, manufactured by Opel and re-branded as Vauxhall in the UK, includes the Adam ( city car ), Viva ( city car ), Astra ( small family car ), Corsa ( supermini ), Insignia ( large family car ), Crossland X ( subcompact crossover SUV ), Mokka ( subcompact SUV ) and the Grandland X ( compact SUV ). Vauxhall sells high - performance versions of some of its models under the VXR and GSi sub-brands. Contents 1 History 1.1 Foundation to 1925 1.2 1925 to 1945 1.3 1945 to 1970 1.4 1970 to 1990 1.5 1990 to 2000 1.6 2000 to 2010 1.7 2010 to 2016 1.8 2017 to present 1.8. 1 Acquisition by Groupe PSA 2 Current model range 2.1 Passenger cars 2.2 Commercial vehicles 2.3 VXR models 3 Previous models 3.1 Passenger cars 3.2 Commercial vehicles 4 Relationship with other GM products 5 Operations 6 Logo 7 Sponsorships 8 Motorsports 9 See also 10 Note 11 References 12 External links History Foundation to 1925 Oldest surviving Vauxhall, delivered in November 1903 30 -- 98 Velox Vauxhall Griffin on a 1921 Vauxhall 25 Scottish marine engineer Alexander Wilson founded the company at 90 -- 92 Wandsworth Road, Vauxhall, London, in 1857. Originally named Alex Wilson and Company, then Vauxhall Iron Works from 1897, the company built pumps and marine engines. In 1903 the company built its first car, a five - horsepower single - cylinder model steered using a tiller, with two forward gears and no reverse gear. About 70 were made in the first year, before the car was improved with wheel steering and a reverse gear in 1904. A single survivor could still be seen at the London Science Museum in 1968. To expand, the company moved the majority of its production to Luton in 1905. The company continued to trade under the name Vauxhall Iron Works until 1907, when the modern name of Vauxhall Motors was adopted. The company was characterised by its sporting models, but after World War I the company 's designs were more austere. Much of Vauxhall 's success during the early years of Vauxhall Motors was attributable to Laurence Pomeroy. He joined Vauxhall in 1906 at the age of twenty - two, as an assistant draughtsman. In the winter of 1907 / 8, the chief designer F.W. Hodges took a long holiday, and in his absence the managing director Percy Kidner asked Pomeroy to design an engine for cars to be entered in the 1908 RAC and Scottish Reliability Trial, held in June that year. The cars were so successful that Pomeroy took over from Hodges. Pomeroy 's first design, the Y - Type Y1, had outstanding success at the 1908 RAC and Scottish 2000 Mile Reliability Trials -- showing excellent hill climbing ability with an aggregate of 37 seconds less time in the hill climbs than any other car in its class. With unparalleled speeds around the Brooklands circuit, the Vauxhall was so far ahead of all other cars of any class that the driver could relax, accomplishing the 200 miles ( 320 km ) at an average speed of 46 mph ( 74 km / h ), when the car was capable of 55 mph ( 89 km / h ). The Y - Type went on to win class E of the Trial. The Y - Type was so successful that it was decided to put the car into production as the A09 car. This spawned the Vauxhall A-Type. Four distinct types of this were produced between 27 October 1908 -- up to when mass production halted in 1914. One last A-Type was put together in 1920. Capable of up to 100 mph ( 160 km / h ), the A-Type Vauxhall was one of the most acclaimed 3 - litre cars of its day. Two cars were entered in the 1910 Prince Henry Trials, and although not outright winners, performed well, and replicas were made for sale officially as the C - type -- but now known as the Prince Henry. During the First World War, Vauxhall made large numbers of the D - type, a Prince Henry chassis with de-rated engine, for use as staff cars for the British forces. After the 1918 armistice, the D - type remained in production, along with the sporting E-type. Pomeroy left in 1919, moving to the United States, and was replaced by C.E. King. In spite of making good cars, expensive pedigree cars of the kind that had served the company well in the prosperous pre-war years were no longer in demand : the company struggled to make a consistent profit and Vauxhall looked for a major strategic partner. 1925 to 1945 A Mk IV Churchill tank ( 75mm ), of which 7,368 were manufactured by Vauxhall between 1941 and 1945 On 16 November 1925, Vauxhall was acquired by General Motors Corporation for US $2.5 million. The company 's image and target market were gently but firmly changed over the next five and more years, marked particularly by the introduction in late 1930 of the low - cost two - litre Vauxhall Cadet and the next year the first Bedford truck, which was Chevrolet based. Vauxhall 's chief engineer since 1920, Charles Evelyn King, would retire as engineering director in 1950. The company 's future chief engineer, Harold Drew, left Luton for a spell working as a draughtsman with GM 's Lansing - based Oldsmobile division. As the first significant post-acquisition passenger car, the Cadet, initially retailing at £ 280, is generally regarded as demonstrating Vauxhall 's newly acquired interest and expertise in controlling production costs, but it was also the first British car to feature a synchromesh gearbox. During the Second World War car production at Luton was suspended to allow Vauxhall to work on the new Churchill tank. Despite a bombing raid in August 1940, in which 39 employees were killed, it was taken from specification to production in less than a year, and assembled there ( as well as at other sites ). More than 5,600 Churchill tanks were built. Luton also produced around 250,000 lorries for the war effort, alongside the new Bedford Dunstable plant, which was opened in 1942, with Bedford designs being common in British use. As a morale booster for the company employees, on 23, 24 and 25 February 1944, Adelaide Hall appeared in concert at the factory in Luton, where she entertained the employees during their lunch break. In all she performed in front of more than 10,000 workers ; it was the first time that Vauxhall had contracted a star to perform at their factory for three consecutive days. 1945 to 1970 A buyer and seller looking under the bonnet of a Vauxhall at a dealership in Denmark in the 1950s Passenger car production resumed after the end of the Second World War. Models were more mass - market than pre-war products, helping to drive an expansion of the company. A manufacturing plant at Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, was opened in 1962, initially making components to supply to the production lines in Luton, before passenger car production began there in 1964. In 1963 production of the Vauxhall Viva small family car commenced, with the new car being aimed at the likes of the Ford Anglia and Morris Minor. The German version of the car was sold as the Opel Kadett. The locally assembled Vauxhall Viva was launched in Australia in May 1964. In 1966 Vauxhall 's Slant Four went into production -- the first production overhead camshaft inline - four engine to use a rubber timing belt. Also the FD Victor was launched at the Earls Court Motor Show, considered by many to be one of Vauxhall 's finest all - British styling efforts. During the 1960s Vauxhall acquired a reputation for making rust - prone models. The corrosion protection built into models was tightened up significantly, but the reputation dogged the company until the early 1980s. In 1967 Vauxhall became a Royal Warrant Holder : Motor Vehicle Manufacturers to HM The Queen -- The Royal Mews. The warrant of HRH The Prince of Wales was added in 1994. By the late 1960s, the company was achieving five - figure sales on its most popular models, including the entry - level Viva and larger Victor. 1970 to 1990 In 1970 the HC Viva was launched, which went on to become Vauxhall 's best - selling car of the decade, featuring among the best 10 selling cars in Britain each year until after 1976, with production not finishing until 1979, when the Viva nameplate was finally discontinued after 16 years and three generations. In 1973, the Vauxhall Firenza `` Droopsnoot '' coupe was unveiled at the Earls Court Motor Show, introducing the public to Vauxhall 's new aerodynamic look for all of its subsequent 1970s models. By 1973 the Victor was losing sales in a market that was becoming increasingly dominated by the Ford Cortina. This was not enough to keep Vauxhall from being well behind market leaders Ford and British Leyland in sales, and most of its range was struggling even to keep pace with Chrysler UK ( formerly the Rootes Group ). The Cavalier Mark I, in production from 1975 to 1981 Vauxhall 's sales began to increase from 1975, with the launch of two important new models, the Chevette, a small three - door hatchback that was the first car of its kind to be built in Britain ; and the Cavalier, a stylish four - door saloon designed to compete head - to - head with the all - conquering Ford Cortina. A two - door coupe and three - door `` sport hatch '' had joined the Cavalier range by 1978, but there never was an estate version. The Cavalier helped Vauxhall regain lost ground in this crucial sector of the market, while the Chevette proved to be hugely popular in the growing supermini sector, as more buyers turned to smaller cars following the Oil Crisis of 1973. The Chevette range later evolved into a three - door estate as well as saloons with two or four doors. Both models were based on models produced by Opel, GM 's German subsidiary, the Chevette being based on the Opel Kadett, but with a distinct front end. Along with the Chevrolet Chevette in the US and Canada, the Chevette and Kadett were built on GM 's T - Car platform. Similarly, the Cavalier was based on the Opel Ascona, but featured the front end of the Manta, as did the Chevrolet Chevair in South Africa. These models were built on the GM J platform. This marked the end of a long and gradual process by GM to consolidate its two European subsidiaries with preference for the larger and, in terms of both absolute sales and market share, more successful Opel. Since the early 1960s Vauxhalls, whilst being designed and built in the United Kingdom, increasingly shared their general specification, engineering features and styling with Opel counterparts ( the Viva with the Kadett and the Victor with the Rekord, for instance ) even if the two cars were distinct, with few to any interchangeable parts. From the late 1960s and into the early 1970s increasing economic turmoil in the UK, declining build quality and increasing strike action throughout British industry ( and, in stark contrast, the ' Wirtschaftswunder ' or ' economic miracle ' of West Germany during the same period ), plus the entry of the UK into the European Economic Community in 1973, made maintaining two parallel model lines serving similar markets increasingly undesirable. The FE Series Victor, launched in 1972, would be the last all - British Vauxhall. Following the introduction of the Chevette and Cavalier virtually all future Vauxhalls would be lightly restyled Opels ( the exceptions would be based on models from elsewhere in the GM organisation ). However Vauxhall would retain its two British factories at Luton and Ellesmere Port, with most cars wearing the Vauxhall badge still being built in the UK. The introduction of the Opel - based Vauxhalls marked a significant improvement in both the design and build quality of Vauxhall cars, which were now considered strong rivals to their Ford competitors. By the end of the 1970s, Vauxhall had boosted its market share substantially, and was fast closing in on Ford and British Leyland. In 1978 Vauxhall strengthened its position in the executive car market with the launch of its all - new Carlton saloon and estate, which were facelifted versions of the German - built Opel Rekord. A year later, a more upmarket saloon model, the Senator, was launched under the Opel brand, and finally became available as a Vauxhall from 1983. By 1979, Vauxhall had increased its market share substantially ; it was still some way behind Ford and British Leyland, but had overtaken Talbot ( the Peugeot - owned successor to Rootes and Chrysler UK ). Early in 1980, Vauxhall moved into the modern family hatchback market with its Astra, ( Opel Kadett elsewhere ) range that replaced the ageing Viva, and quickly became popular with buyers. The Astra was a rebadged version of the first front - wheel drive Opel Kadett, which had been launched in 1979, and was sold alongside the Astra for several years. 1981 saw the release of the Mk2 Cavalier, the first Vauxhall of this size to offer front - wheel drive and a hatchback bodystyle. Built at the Luton plant, it was the car that really boosted Vauxhall 's fortunes, with the Cavalier 's sales for 1982 almost trebling its total for 1981, and peaking at more than 130,000 by 1984. During that time, sales of the Vauxhall brand more than doubled. The Vauxhall Astra Mk I, in production from 1979 to 1984 This was complemented in 1983 with an estate ), based on the Camira produced in Australia by Holden, with the tailgates for the Vauxhall version being built there and shipped to Luton. It was Britain 's second best selling car in 1984 and 1985, and spent most of its production life vying with the Ford Sierra for top place in the large family car market. The Cavalier was relaunched in 1988, an all - new format which won praise for its sleek looks and much - improved resistance to rust. April 1983 saw the launch of the Nova supermini, a rebadged version of the Spanish built Opel Corsa. The new entry - level model in the Vauxhall range, it was available as a hatchback or a saloon and was solely built at the Zaragoza plant in Spain. This completed Vauxhall 's regeneration, and by the end of the 1980s it had overtaken Austin Rover ( formerly British Leyland ) as Britain 's second most popular carmaker. The arrival of the Nova also spelled the end of the Chevette in 1984 after nearly a decade in production. The Astra further strengthened its position in the market with an all - new model in the autumn of 1984, featuring an aerodynamic design reminiscent of Ford 's larger Sierra. The Vauxhall Carlton Mark I In 1984 the aerodynamically styled Vauxhall Astra Mk2 built at the Ellesmere Port Plant became the first Vauxhall car to be elected European Car of the Year. From the spring of 1985, the Vauxhall Nova was also available as a four - door saloon and five - door hatchback. In January 1986, Vauxhall launched the Belmont -- a saloon version of the Astra which offered more interior space and was almost as big as a Cavalier. However, this car failed to reach Vauxhall 's expectations in terms of sales, and from 1989 was rebadged the Astra Belmont. Vauxhall won another `` European Car of the Year '' award with its all - new Vauxhall Carlton, a rebadged Opel built vehicle and badged Opel Omega in the rest of Europe, sealing the award for 1987. A year after the launch of the MK2 Carlton, Vauxhall revitalised its flagship Senator to create a new generation luxury saloon. The Luton - built Cavalier ( Mk3 ) ( sold as the Opel Vectra in Ireland and mainland Europe ) entered its third generation in 1988 -- with an all - new sleek design that further enhanced its popularity. The Calibra coupé followed in 1989, which was officially the most aerodynamic production car in the world on its launch. Falling between the Cavalier and Senator was the Opel built Carlton ( Opel Rekord and later Opel Omega elsewhere ) -- relaunched in 1986, and was voted European Car of the Year, a large four - door family saloon. There were two sports versions of the Carlton : the 3000 GSi and the Lotus Carlton, the latter being aimed at family - minded executives and, at 175 miles per hour ( 282 km / h ), considered the fastest four - door production car at the time. Most importantly, the latest generation of Vauxhall models dispelled the image of rusting cars that had for so long put potential buyers off the Vauxhall brand, and given it a strong competitor in all the major market sectors, whereas during the first half of the 1970s only the Viva was a serious threat to any of its key rivals. By 1990, Vauxhall was preparing to launch the MK3 Astra, as well as its first ever 4X4 off - road vehicle, while a replacement for the Nova was also in development. 1990 to 2000 Griffin House, became the Vauxhall headquarters building in 1991. It had previously been the design and testing building. In 1991, Vauxhall 's corporate headquarters were moved to Griffin House, formerly the company 's design and testing building. In the same year, the third generation Vauxhall Astra went on sale ( with Opel versions adopting the Astra nameplate for the first time ) and the saloon version badged Astra rather than Belmont. Vauxhall joined forces with Isuzu to produce the Frontera, a four - wheel drive off - roader available in short and long - wheelbase versions. In 1993 the Cavalier was firmly re-established as Britain 's most popular large family car, with more than 130,000 sales, while the third generation Astra ( relaunched in 1991 ) with 100,000 sales was continuing to narrow the gap between itself and the best - selling Ford Escort. The Astra was now joined by the Belmont -- a four - door booted version of the Astra. This continued for some time until being renamed Astra, presumably to provide combined sales / registration figures. The decade - old Nova was axed in 1993, in favour of the all - new Corsa, adopting the European naming of the model ; its distinctive styling and practical interior began attracting more sales than its predecessor had done. In 1994 GM ceased production of Bedford Vehicles because their profits were decreasing over time. Bedford Vehicles had been Vauxhall 's commercial vehicle arm, making successful vans, trucks and lorries since the 1930s. The last `` true '' Bedford light commercials -- the Bedford HA and Bedford CF panel vans -- had already ceased production in 1983 and 1987 respectively, and had been replaced by licence - built versions of Isuzu and Suzuki vans such as the Midi and Rascal. Production of these models continued at Luton, now badged Vauxhall but built by a separate company named IBC ( Isuzu - Bedford Commercials ). Also in 1994, the Vauxhall Carlton nameplate was abandoned after 16 years, and Omega took its place, becoming the first model to feature the new corporate `` v '' grille. Vauxhall also added another vehicle to its four - wheel drive line - up in the shape of the Isuzu - based Monterey. Vauxhall joined the expanding `` compact coupé '' market with its new Corsa - based Tigra model. The Cavalier nameplate was axed in 1995 after 20 years, a full model after Opel had dropped its Ascona nameplate, Vauxhall adopting the common Vectra nameplate for its successor, completing a policy by General Motors that aligned and identically badged all Vauxhall and Opel models. Vectra received disappointing feedback from the motoring public, and several well - known journalists, most notably Jeremy Clarkson. Yet it was still hugely popular, and for a while after the 1999 facelift, it was actually more popular than Ford 's highly acclaimed Mondeo. In 1996, Vauxhall launched the short - lived Sintra large MPV. The Astra entered its fourth generation in 1998, and offered levels of build quality and handling that were better than all of its predecessors. A 1999 Vauxhall Omega 2.5 TD GLS Estate In 1999, the seven - seater compact MPV Zafira, based on the Astra chassis, went on sale and the Vauxhall Monterey was withdrawn from sale in the UK, although it continued to sell in the rest of Europe as an Opel. In the late 1990s, Vauxhall received criticism in several high - profile car surveys. In 1998 a Top Gear customer satisfaction survey condemned the Vauxhall Vectra as the least satisfying car to own in Britain. A year later the Vauxhall marque was ranked last by the same magazine 's customer satisfaction survey. The Vauxhall range received particular criticism for breakdowns, build - quality problems, and many other maladies -- which meant that quality did not reflect sales success. Nevertheless, Vauxhall was competing strongly in the sales charts, and by 1999 was closer to Ford in terms of sales figures than it had been in years. 2000 to 2010 In 2000 Vauxhall entered the sports car market with the Lotus - based VX220 roadster. It re-entered the coupé market with the Astra Coupé. The new Agila city car and a second generation of the Corsa supermini also went on sale. On 12 December 2000, Vauxhall announced that car production at its Luton plant would cease in 2002, with the final vehicle being made in March 2002 following the end of production of the Vectra B and production of its replacement moving to Ellesmere Port alongside the Astra. Manufacture of vans ( sold under the Vauxhall, Opel, Renault and Nissan badges throughout Europe ) continued at the IBC Vehicles plant in Luton. On 17 May 2006, Vauxhall announced the loss of 900 jobs from Ellesmere Port 's 3,000 staff, part of significant worldwide staff reductions by GM. The Astra Mark V, in production from 2004 to 2009. The Vauxhall Vectra Mark II, in production from 2002 to 2008 Vauxhall Corsas on sale at a former dealership in Wetherby, West Yorkshire. In 2002, the all - new Vectra went on sale, alongside a large hatchback badged as the Signum, which arrived the following year. 2002 was one of the best years ever for Vauxhall sales in the UK. The Corsa was Britain 's second most popular new car, and gave the marque top spot in the British supermini car sales charts for the first time. The Astra was Britain 's third best - selling car that year, while the Vectra and the Zafira ( a compact MPV launched in 1999 ) were just outside the top ten. The second generation Vectra was launched in 2002 and was further improved over earlier Vectras, but was still hardly a class - leader, and now had to be content with lower sales due to a fall in popularity of D - sector cars ; although a facelift in 2005 sparked a rise in sales. In 2003, Vauxhall Omega production ended after nine years, with no direct replacement, while the Meriva mini-MPV was launched. Perhaps the most important Vauxhall product of the 2000s so far is the fifth generation Astra, launched in early 2004 -- and praised by the motoring press for its dramatic styling. It was an instant hit with British buyers, and was the nation 's second best - selling car in 2005 and 2006, giving the all - conquering Ford Focus its strongest competitor yet. Many police forces across the United Kingdom adopted the Astra as the standard patrol vehicle ( panda car ). Also in 2004, production of the Frontera ended after 13 years, with no direct replacement. In 2006, the third generation of the Vauxhall Corsa went on sale, after having its world premier launch at the 2006 British International Motor Show at ExCeL London. The second generation Corsa had been Britain 's most popular supermini for most of its production life, but by 2006 it had started to fall behind the best of its competitors, so an all - new model was launched. This Corsa sold far better than either of the previous Corsas, and it was an instant hit with buyers. Also in 2006, the second generation Zafira was the tenth - biggest selling car in the UK, the first time that an MPV had featured in the top 10 best - selling cars in Britain. In 2007 Vauxhall 's new 4x4, the Vauxhall Antara, was released in July. Vauxhall 's powerful VXR8 that came with 306 kilowatts ( 416 PS ; 410 bhp ) was also introduced. In 2008, Vauxhall began rebranding with a modified corporate logo. The Vauxhall Insignia was launched at the 2008 British International Motor Show at ExCeL London, replacing the Vectra and won another `` European Car of the Year ''. Vauxhall launched the new Agila city car. In 2009, a new generation of the Vauxhall Astra was launched. On 30 May 2009, a deal was announced which was to lead to the spin - off of the Vauxhall and Opel brands into a new company. On 1 June 2009, Vauxhall Motors ' troubled parent company, General Motors filed for bankruptcy in a court in New York. By then the sale of Vauxhall and its German sister subsidiary, Opel, was being negotiated as part of a strategy driven by the German government to ring fence the businesses from any General Motors asset liquidation. The sale to Canadian - owned Magna International was agreed on 10 September 2009, with the approval of the German government. During the announcement regarding the sale, Magna promised to keep the Vauxhall factory at Ellesmere Port open until 2013, but could not guarantee any further production after that date. On 3 November 2009, the GM board called off the Magna deal after coming to the conclusion that Opel and Vauxhall Motors was crucial to GM 's global strategy. 2010 to 2016 In 2010, the new Vauxhall Movano was launched and a new Meriva ( launched at Geneva Motor Show ) went on sale in mid-2010. The Ampera E-Rev, short for extended range electric vehicle, went on sale in the UK in 2011 with a 16 kWh, 400 lb ( 180 kg ) lithium - ion battery pack that delivers 40 miles ( 64 km ) of motoring and a 1.4 - litre petrol engine that extends the car 's range to 350 miles ( 560 km ). It won the `` European Car of the Year ''. A new Vauxhall Combo went on sale in late 2011 and a facelifted Corsa went on sale in early 2011. The Zafira Tourer compact MPV was released in late 2011. In 2012, the Vauxhall Adam city car was launched at the Paris Motor Show in late 2012, with sales beginning in early 2013. A new Vauxhall Mokka compact SUV was launched at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. In May 2012, GM announced plans to move much of the production of Astra vehicles from mainland Europe to the UK. The company announced it would invest £ 125 million in the Ellesmere Port factory and spend about £ 1bn in the UK component sector. It is reported that Astras produced at Ellesmere Port contain only 25 percent British parts, far below the typical 50 to 55 percent local content requirement Britain would have to agree to in bilateral trade deals. HydroGen4 is the successor of the fuel cell vehicle Opel HydroGen3, developed by General Motors / Opel and presented in 2007 at the IAA in Frankfurt and was expected to hit the market in 2016. In December 2015, Safety officials ask Vauxhall to initiate a full safety recall of the Zafira B model, due to a worrying level of ' Improper Repairs '. 2017 to present Acquisition by Groupe PSA On 3 March 2017, sources revealed that the American group General Motors has reached a tentative agreement with Groupe PSA for the acquisition of the Vauxhall and Opel brands and the complete Vauxhall / Opel automobile business. On 6 March 2017, General Motors ( GM ) and Groupe PSA announced their agreement that PSA will buy GM 's Vauxhall and Opel subsidiaries in a deal worth 2.2 billion Euro. In preparation for the sale, the ownership of all GM plants and Vauxhall / Opel sales organisations in Europe ( except the Turin development center, and GM Europe with the sales organisations for Cadillac and Chevrolet ) were transferred to Adam Opel GmbH in Rüsselsheim, and then at end of June 2017 in one package from Adam Opel GmbH to her subsidiary named Opel Automobile GmbH whose ownership was transferred to Peugeot S.A. by August 1, 2017. The historic Adam Opel GmbH remains property of GM with the sole purpose of paying out the factory pensions of the former Opel workers who left up to July 31, 2017. On 18 September 2017, Vauxhall 's official company name was changed from ' General Motors UK Limited ' ( in use since 16 April 2008 ), back to its original ' Vauxhall Motors Limited '. Current model range Main article : List of Vauxhall vehicles Passenger cars The following tables list current and announced Vauxhall production vehicles as of 2017 : Model Image Class Body style Adam City car Hatchback Astra Small family car Hatchback Sports Tourer ( Estate ) Corsa Supermini Hatchback Insignia Large family car Grand Sport ( Hatchback ) Sports Tourer ( Estate ) Country Tourer ( AWD Offroad Estate ) Grandland X Compact SUV SUV Crossland X Compact SUV SUV Mokka X Subcompact crossover SUV SUV Viva City car Hatchback Commercial vehicles Model Image Class Body style Corsavan Car - derived van Van Combo Panel van Van Vivaro Light commercial vehicle Van Movano Light commercial vehicle Van Chassis cab Crew cab VXR models Main article : VXR The VXR range is analogous to the OPC range made by Opel Performance Center, the HSV range made by Holden Special Vehicles in Australia and the SS range made by Latin America Chevrolet. The models include the Corsa VXR, Astra VXR, Insignia VXR, Meriva VXR, Zafira VXR, VXR8, VX220 ( no longer in production ), and the Australian - built Holden Monaro ( also no longer in production ). These vehicles are high - performance machines, and are ideally aimed for younger buyers. Vauxhall unveiled a new model based on the Australian HSV Maloo at the 2005 National Exhibition Centre motor show in Birmingham, England. It was claimed that the monstrous V8 Ute had a top speed around 200 mph ( 320 km / h ) -- which is extremely fast for a utility vehicle. However, the model never got to the showroom in the United Kingdom. The Monaro ( two - door design ) is also no longer made, but a new version ( a four - door saloon ) is now on sale as the VXR8. The VXR8 is based on Australia 's HSV Clubsport R8. This car reaches 0 -- 60 in 5 seconds, in similar territory to other muscle car contemporaries such as the Dodge Viper ( SRT - 10 ) and Corvette Z06 -- and marginally slower than the Ford Performance Vehicles ( FPV ) FG F6. The VXR badge is a symbol of the combined technological resources of the global General Motors group, and the recognised expertise of consultants Lotus and the Triple Eight Racing Team. Astra GTC VXR Small family car Hatchback Coupé Corsa VXR Supermini Hatchback Insignia VXR Large family car Saloon Hatchback Sports Tourer ( Estate ) The VXR brand has been ushered into hiatus by the purchase of the Vauxhall brand by PSA Groupe, all models listed within the table have been discontinued. Previous models Passenger cars 20 open tourer 14 -- 40 open tourer 20 -- 60 saloon 1930 Cars designed by independent Vauxhall : 6 ( 1903 -- 1904 ) 9 ( 1905 ) 12 ( 1905 ) 12 -- 16 ( 1906 -- 1908 ) 14 ( 1905 ) 14 and 14 -- 40 ( 1922 -- 1927 ) 16 ( 1909 -- 1910 ) 16 -- 20 ( 1911 -- 1915 ) A 18 ( 1906 ) 20 ( 1908 -- 1912 ) A 20 ( 1911 -- 1912 ) C Prince Henry 20 -- 60 ( 1927 -- 1930 ) R and T 22 ( 1912 ) A 22 ( 1912 -- 1914 ) C Prince Henry 23 -- 60 ( 1922 -- 1926 ) OD 25 ( 1912 -- 1922 ) D 25 -- 70 ( 1926 -- 1928 ) 27 ( 1910 ) B 30 ( 1911 -- 1912 ) B 30 -- 98 ( 1913 -- 1922 ) E & OE 35 ( 1913 -- 1915 ) B 80 ( 1930 -- 1933 ) T - 80, Silent 80 A-type ( 1911 -- 1914 ) B - type ( 1910 -- 1914 ) C - type `` Prince Henry '' ( 1911 -- 1913 ) D - type ( 1912 -- 1922 ) E-type ( 1913 -- 1922 ) Cars designed after acquisition by General Motors : Big Six limousine 1936 Velox 4 - door Saloon 1948 Velox 4 - door Saloon 1955 Cresta 4 - door Saloon 1962 Velox 4 - door Saloon 1963 Vauxhall 10 ( 1937 -- 1947 ) Vauxhall 12 ( 1933 -- 1938 ) Vauxhall 12 - 4 ( 1937 -- 1946 ) Vauxhall 14 ( 1933 -- 1939 ) Light Six Vauxhall 14 - 6 ( 1938 -- 1948 ) Light Six Vauxhall 20 or 27 ( 1933 -- 1936 ) Big Six Vauxhall 25 ( 1937 -- 1940 ) Big Six Vauxhall Albany Vauxhall Agila ( 2000 -- 2015 ) Vauxhall Ampera ( 2012 -- 2015 ) Vauxhall Antara ( 2007 -- 2016 ) Vauxhall Astra ( 1998 - 2013 ) Vauxhall Astra GTC ( 2012 - 2018 ) Vauxhall Belmont ( 1986 -- 1991 ) Vauxhall Brava ( 1992 -- 2002 ) rebadged Isuzu TF Vauxhall Cadet ( 1931 -- 1933 ) Vauxhall Calibra ( 1989 -- 1997 ) Vauxhall Carlton ( 1978 -- 1994 ) rebadged Opel Rekord ( Mk 1 ) / Opel Omega ( Mk 2 ) Vauxhall Cascada ( 2013 - 2018 ) rebadged Opel Cascada Vauxhall Cavalier ( 1975 -- 1995 ) rebadged Opel Ascona ( Mk 1 & 2 ) / Opel Vectra ( Mk 3 ) Vauxhall Chevette ( 1975 -- 1984 ) rebadged Opel Kadett C Vauxhall Cresta ( 1954 -- 1972 ) Vauxhall Envoy ( 1960 -- 1970 ) see Victor Vauxhall Epic ( 1963 -- 1970 ) see Viva Vauxhall Equus ( 1978 concept ) Vauxhall Firenza ( 1970 -- 1975 ) Vauxhall Frontera ( 1991 -- 2004, rebadged Isuzu MU Wizard ) Vauxhall Magnum ( 1973 -- 1978 ) Vauxhall Meriva ( 2003 - 2017 ) Vauxhall Monaro ( 2001 -- 2005 ) rebadged Holden Monaro Vauxhall Monterey ( 1994 -- 1998, rebadged Isuzu Trooper ) Vauxhall Nova ( 1982 -- 1993 ), rebadged Opel Corsa A Vauxhall Omega ( 1994 -- 2003 ), rebadged Opel Omega B Vauxhall Royale Concept Vauxhall Sintra ( 1996 -- 1999, rebadged Chevrolet Venture ) Vauxhall Senator Vauxhall Royale ( 1978 -- 1986 ), rebadged HSV / Opel Senator Vauxhall Senator ( 1978 -- 1994 ) Vauxhall Signum ( 2003 -- 2008 ) Vauxhall Silver Aero ( 1983 concept ) Vauxhall Silver Bullet ( 1976 concept ) Vauxhall Six ( 1933 -- 1938 ) Vauxhall SRV ( 1970 concept ) Vauxhall Tigra ( 1994 -- 2001 2004 -- 2009 ) Vauxhall Trixx ( 2004 concept ) Vauxhall Vectra ( 1995 -- 2008 ) Vauxhall Velox ( 1948 -- 1965 ) Vauxhall Ventora ( 1968 -- 1972 ) Vauxhall Viceroy ( 1978 -- 1982 ), rebadged Opel Commodore Vauxhall Victor ( 1957 -- 1978 ) Vauxhall Viscount ( 1966 -- 1972 ) Vauxhall Viva ( 1963 -- 1979 ) Vauxhall VX220 ( 2000 -- 2005 ) VXR8 GTS ( 2003 - 2017 ) Vauxhall VX4 / 90 ( 1961 -- 1972 ) performance version of Victor Vauxhall VX Lightning ( 2003 concept for Opel GT ) Vauxhall Wyvern ( 1948 -- 1957 ) Vauxhall XVR ( concept ) Vauxhall Zafira ( 1999 - 2014 ) Including the Zafira Tourer ( 2011 - 2018 ) Commercial vehicles A Bedford CA panel van Bedford branded Bedford Astramax ( 1984 -- 1992 ) Bedford Beagle ( 1964 -- 1973 ) Bedford CA ( 1952 -- 1969 ) Bedford CF ( 1969 -- 1988 ) Bedford Dormobile Bedford Midi Bedford Rascal ( 1986 -- 1993, rebadged Suzuki Supercarry ) Vauxhall branded Vauxhall Arena ( 1997 -- 2000, rebadged Renault Trafic ) Vauxhall Brava Relationship with other GM products The Vauxhall Chevette, in production from 1975 to 1984 General Motors began to merge the product lines of Vauxhall and Opel in the early 1970s, largely in favour of Opel products. The 1963 HA Viva was developed under some secrecy and exhibited remarkable similarities with the Opel Kadett released a year previously, while the 1972 FE Victor was essentially the first overt exponent of this strategy, sharing its platform and several body fittings with the Opel Rekord D, although it still retained Vauxhall - designed running gear and had no interchangeable body panels. 1975 saw the release of both the Vauxhall Chevette, ( a reworked Opel Kadett featuring ' Droopsnoot ' styling and an initially unique hatchback bodystyle option ), and the Cavalier, a similarly restyled Ascona. By the end of the 1970s most Vauxhalls were based on Opel designs. The Chevette, Cavalier and Carlton were restyled versions of the Kadett, Ascona and Rekord respectively, all featuring the distinctive sloping ' Droopsnoot ' front end first prototyped on the HPF Firenza, with Vauxhall engines preserved in the form of the Viva - sourced 1256 unit fitted to the Chevette and Cavalier, and the much larger 2279cc slant - four for the homologation - special Chevette HS. However the Viceroy and Royale were simply rebadged versions of Opel 's Opel Commodore C and Senator, imported from Germany. These were also sold in left hand drive in continental European markets, including the Netherlands, Belgium, the Scandinavian countries, Italy and Portugal, in competition with their Opel counterparts. With the 1979 demise of the last solely Vauxhall design, the Viva ( although the last `` true '' Vauxhall product can be argued to be the Bedford CF panel van, which ceased production in 1987 ), GM policy was for future Vauxhall models to be, in effect, rebadged Opels, designed and developed primarily in Rüsselsheim. The original Astra, launched in 1980, set the eventual precedent for all GM Europe vehicles from that point onward -- apart from the badging it had no styling or engineering difference from its Opel sister -- the Kadett D. In the late ' 70s and early ' 80s, GM dealers in Ireland and in the United Kingdom sold highly similar Opel and Vauxhall models alongside each other. This policy of duplication was phased out, when the Vauxhall and Opel dealer networks were merged and rebranded as Vauxhall - Opel in 1982, and most of the Opel range was discontinued in the United Kingdom in favour of their Vauxhall badged equivalents. Opel was instead repositioned as a performance - luxury brand - the Opel Manta coupé remained, whilst the Vauxhall Royale was replaced in the line - up by its Opel equivalent ( the Senator / Monza ). However, this strategy was gradually abandoned - the Senator reverted to being badged as a Vauxhall for the 1985 model year, and the Opel Monza disappeared at the end of 1987, whilst the Manta was withdrawn in 1988. The Carlton Mark I Estate, in production from 1978 to 1986. Similarly, the Vauxhall brand was dropped by GM in Ireland in favour of the German brand Opel. Other RHD markets like Malta and Cyprus soon following suit. In New Zealand, the brand was withdrawn in favour of Holden after the demise of the Chevette. GM Europe then began to standardise model names across both brands in the early 1990s. The Vauxhall Astra and Opel Kadett, for example, were both called Astra from 1991 onwards and the Vauxhall Nova and Opel Corsa were both called Corsa from 1993. The change was completed in 1995 when the Vauxhall Cavalier Mk 3 ( Opel Vectra A ) was replaced by the Opel Vectra B, called Vauxhall Vectra. Apart from the VX220, sold by Opel as the Speedster, all of Vauxhall 's subsequent models have had the same names as those of Opel. However, the 2015 Viva revives earlier practice due to its Opel equivalent, the Karl, intentionally invoking Karl Opel, the second proprietor of the Opel business. Despite this, the Adam, named after his father and the founder of the company, is sold in Britain without a name change, potentially as it appears less overtly German. From 1994, Vauxhall models differed from Opels in their distinctive grille -- featuring a `` V '', incorporating the Vauxhall badge. This was also used by Holden in New Zealand on both the Astra and Vectra, by Chevrolet in Brazil on the Mk1 Chevrolet Astra ( Opel Astra F ) and on the Indian version of the Opel Astra. The `` V '' badging was an echo of the fluted V - shaped bonnets that had been used in some form on all Vauxhall cars since the very first. The `` V '' grille was not, however, used on the Vectra - replacing Insignia, unveiled in 2008 and the 2009 Vauxhall Astra and the 2010 Vauxhall Meriva. All the above, plus the US Saturn brand up to its demise in 2009, used the same grille bar with the `` V '' almost entirely muted out. These bars all carried identical badge mounts, enabling brand badges to be readily interchangeable. The Opel - badged versions in right - hand drive form still however find their way into the United Kingdom ; either as grey imports from Ireland or Malta, or are sold as new from car supermarkets who have sourced Irish specification vehicles in bulk. A model unique to the Vauxhall range was the high - performance Monaro coupé, which was sourced from and designed by Holden in Australia. Although this model was also produced in left hand drive ( LHD ) for markets like the US ( where it was known as the Pontiac GTO ) and for the Middle East ( as the Chevrolet Lumina Coupe ), the model was not offered by Opel in mainland Europe. Imports of this vehicle were limited to 15,000 to avoid additional safety testing. Future vehicles that have been confirmed by Vauxhall, but not by Opel, are the Holden Commodore SSV and the HSV GTS. Vauxhall confirmed the importation of the GTS just after the reborn Opel GT roadster was announced as not being imported into the UK. The bodywork for the Holden Camira estate was used for the Vauxhall Cavalier estate in the UK ( though not for the identical Opel Ascona in the rest of Europe ) -- conversely the rear bodywork of the T - car Vauxhall Chevette estate and Bedford Chevanne van was used for the respective Holden Gemini versions. Vauxhall 's compact car, the Viva, formed the basis of the first Holden Torana in Australia in the 1960s. Many cars badged as Opels, even LHD models, are produced by Vauxhall for export. Vauxhall has built some Holdens for export, too, notably Vectra - As to New Zealand and Astra - Bs to both Australia and New Zealand. Vauxhall Opel 1963 HA Viva ( platform only ) Kadett A 1969 Bedford CF Blitz ( Vauxhall - designed ) 1972 FE Victor ( platform only ) Rekord D 1975 Chevette Kadett C 1975 Cavalier Mk. I Ascona B 1978 Carlton Mk. I Rekord E 1978 Viceroy Commodore C 1978 Royale Senator A 1979 Astra Mk. I Kadett D 1981 Cavalier Mk. II Ascona C 1983 Nova Corsa A 1984 Astra Mk. II Kadett E 1986 Carlton Mk. II Omega A 1988 Cavalier Mk. III Vectra A 2001 VX220 Speedster 2015 Viva Karl Operations Vauxhall is headquartered in Luton, Bedfordshire, and has major manufacturing facilities in Luton ( commercial vehicles, owned by sister company IBC Vehicles ) and Ellesmere Port, the United Kingdom ( passenger cars ). The Luton plant currently employs around 900 staff and has a capacity of approximately 100,000 units. The plant site has a total area of 387,000 square metres. The plant currently produces the Vivaro light commercial van. The Ellesmere Port plant currently employs around 1,880 staff and has a capacity of approximately 187,000 units. The plant site has a total area of 1,209,366 square metres. The plant currently produces the Astra and Astra Sports Tourer. From 1942 to 1987 Vauxhall operated a truck and bus vehicle assembly plant in Dunstable, Bedfordshire. Developed and opened by Vauxhall in 1942 under instruction from the Ministry of Production as a shadow factory, it became a production site for Bedford Vehicles in the 1950s. Vauxhall 's original car plant in Luton stood next to the commercial vehicle plant. After production ceased there in 2002, the plant was demolished and, after several proposals for redevelopment, permission was granted for the site to be redeveloped as the Napier Park in January 2014. Vauxhall Ellesmere Port IBC Vehicles Luton plant Logo The griffin emblem, which is still in use, is derived from the coat of arms of Falkes de Breauté, a mercenary soldier who was granted the Manor of Luton for services to King John in the thirteenth century. By marriage, he also gained the rights to an area near London, south of the Thames. The house he built, Fulk 's Hall, became known in time as Vauxhall. Vauxhall Iron Works adopted this emblem from the coat of arms to emphasise its links to the local area. When Vauxhall Iron Works moved to Luton in 1905, the griffin emblem coincidentally returned to its ancestral home. The logo as pictured used to be square, but it is now circular, to enable it to fit in the same recess designed for the circular Opel emblem. Since the 1920s, the griffin has been redesigned and released nine times. 2008 saw the release of a revised version of the 2005 logo. Bill Parfitt, Chairman and managing director of GM UK, said, `` While the new - look Griffin pays homage to our 100 - year - plus manufacturing heritage in the UK, it also encapsulates Vauxhall 's fresh design philosophy, first showcased in the current Astra, and set to continue with Insignia. '' The Vauxhall Griffin from Vauxhall D - type ( 1920 ) A Vauxhall grillplate from the 1940s showing the Griffin logo The Vauxhall logo of the 1970s and 1980s Vauxhall Motors ' logo from the 1990 's to 2008 Vauxhall 's current logo featuring a simplified griffin ( 2008 - now ) Sponsorships Vauxhall Motors sponsored the Football Conference, the highest non-league division of English football, from 1986 until 1998. It took over from Gola, and remained in association with the league for twelve years, before ending its backing and being replaced by Nationwide Building Society. In 2011, Vauxhall became the primary sponsor for the home nations national football teams ( England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales ). Motorsports John Hancock driving a Vauxhall at the 1914 French Grand Prix Vauxhall has competed successfully in several forms of motorsport. During the 1970s Vauxhall had a strong presence on the British rallying scene. The Magnum coupe was heavier and less powerful than the dominant Ford Escort, but still put up some strong performances in the hands of drivers such as Will Sparrow and Brian Culcheth. From 1976, Vauxhall decided to heighten their profile in the sport by building a homologation - special version of the Vauxhall Chevette, known as the Chevette HS. This was a much more serious contender, and in the hands of drivers such as Pentti Airikkala, Tony Pond, Russell Brookes and Jimmy McRae it and its successor version, the Chevette HSR, won many events in Britain and Europe. Airikkala won the British Rally Championship in a Chevette in 1979. The Chevette was retired in 1983, and effort was concentrated for the next few years on the Group B Opel Manta 400. However, the Vauxhall Astra and Vauxhall Nova were campaigned in the lower power classes during the mid-1980s, and became popular amateurs ' cars thanks to their reliability, ease of tuning and ready supply of parts. After the banning of Group B in 1986 the Group A Astra returned to the forefront. As a two - litre, front - wheel - drive car it was unable to challenge the four - wheel - drive cars for outright victory, but did score top ten placings on several World Championship events. Louise Aitken - Walker won the ladies ' World Championship in 1990 in an Astra, despite a serious accident on that year 's Rally of Portugal when her car rolled down a hillside and into a lake. During 1991 -- 92 serious consideration was given to campaigning the four - wheel - drive version of the Vauxhall Calibra in British and possibly world rallies, and a trial version contested the 1993 Swedish Rally in the hands of Stig Blomqvist. However, the cost was judged prohibitive, and in any case the ' Formula 2 ' category had been introduced into British rallying. The latest version of the Astra was an ideal contender, and won the category in the 1993 and 1994 championships, driven by David Llewellin. Vauxhall campaigned successive versions of the Astra in the British championship until the late 1990s. Tom Chilton driving for Vauxhall at the Oulton Park round of the 2007 British Touring Car Championship Vauxhall first entered the British Touring Car Championship with the Vauxhall Cavalier in 1989. The lead driver was John Cleland, who remained with the team until his retirement in 1999. The Cavalier was competitive, and often the fastest front - wheel - drive car in the series, and Cleland was second in the title race in 1992, and then fourth in the following two years. In 1995, however, he won the title ( adding to his 1989 title win in an Astra ). The Cavalier was replaced by the Vectra for 1996. Yvan Muller was sixth in the 1999 British Touring Car Championship and fourth in 2000. In 2001 the BTCC regulations changed and Vauxhall brought the Astra Coupe into the BTCC. The Astra would dominate the BTCC between 2001 and 2004 with the drivers title won by Jason Plato in 2001, James Thompson in 2002 -- 2004 and Yvan Muller in 2003. Vauxhall also won the Manufacturers Award and Teams Award every year also. In 2005 the Astra Coupe was replaced by the Astra Sport Hatch however it was not as competitive as the Astra Coupe and restricted success for Vauxhall in 2005 and 2006. In 2007 The regulations changed again and Vauxhall brought the Vectra back. The Vectra brought success back to Vauxhall after Fabrizio Giovanardi won the 2007 and 2008 BTCC championship. Fabrizio Giovanardi finished 3rd in the championship in 2009 before Vauxhall pulled sponsorship out at the end of 2009 due to and the economic crisis and lack of official manufacturers in the BTCC. In November 2016 it was announced that Vauxhall would return to the BTCC in partnership with Power Maxed Racing. It was later announced that former BTCC and WTCC driver Tom Chilton would lead the team with Senna Proctor as his teammate. See also Steinmetz Opel Tuning Irmscher List of car manufacturers of the United Kingdom Note Jump up ^ Also CEO of Opel Ireland Jump up ^ Company No. 00135767. Incorporated 12 May 1914, name changed from Vauxhall Motors Limited to General Motors UK Limited on 16 April 2008, reverted to Vauxhall Motors Limited on 18 September 2017. References ^ Jump up to : Charles Bulmer ( Ed ) ( 23 November 1968 ). `` Vauxhall Owners ' Supplement : It started in 1857... ''. The Motor. Vol. nbr 3466. pp. 1 -- 52. CS1 maint : Extra text : authors list ( link ) Jump up ^ `` Vauxhall Motors ''. Vauxhall Civic Society. Retrieved 7 July 2012. Jump up ^ `` PSA appoints new MD for Vauxhall Motors ''. Motor Trader. Retrieved 11 January 2018. Jump up ^ `` 17 year high for British car manufacturing as global demand hits record levels ''. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders ( SMMT ), London. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2018. ^ Jump up to : `` General Motors UK Limited - Report and Financial Statements cwork = Full accounts '' ( PDF ). Companies House. 30 December 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2017. Jump up ^ `` Form 10 - K Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 ( d ) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2012 Commission File Number 001 - 34960 General Motors Company '' ( PDF ). General Motors. General Motors Company. 15 February 2013. Archived from the original on 6 August 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2013. Jump up ^ `` Companies House ''. Companies House. Retrieved 20 September 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` Vauxhall Motors : a history ''. The Guardian. UK. 10 September 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2010. ^ Jump up to : `` Opel / Vauxhall to join PSA Group ''. PSA Group. 6 March 2017. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2017. Jump up ^ http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Andrew_Betts_Brown Jump up ^ Simister, John ( 12 July 2009 ). `` Vauxhall Astra ''. The Independent. UK. Retrieved 25 August 2010. Jump up ^ http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/gm-and-opel-grew-apart-over-years ^ Jump up to : `` About Vauxhall ''. General Motors UK Limited. Archived from the original on 6 August 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012. Jump up ^ BBC ^ Jump up to : Georgano, N. ( 2000 ). Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. HMSO. ISBN 1 - 57958 - 293 - 1. Jump up ^ Display advertisement : The Future of Vauxhall Motors by managing directors L Walton and PC Kidner. The Times, Thursday, 26 November 1925 ; pg. 10 ; Issue 44129 Jump up ^ Seymour, W.J. ( 1946 ). An Account of our Stewardship. Being a record of the war - time activities of Vauxhall motors Ltd. pp. 90 -- 94 Jump up ^ Adelaide Hall performs at Vauxhall Factory in 1944 : ( retrieved 10 September 1014 ) http://www.wartimememories.co.uk/women.html Jump up ^ `` Ellesmere Port car factory - Vauxhall, Opel ''. Factorytour.co.uk. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2011. Jump up ^ Bush, James ; Binder, Alan ; Ferris, Deebe ( 2000 ). General Motors in the 20th century. Ward 's Communications. p. 170. Retrieved 13 March 2012. Jump up ^ `` Reviews -- Vauxhall ''. WiseBuyer 's Guides. Retrieved 10 September 2009. Jump up ^ `` Business Vauxhall confirms 900 job losses ''. BBC News. 17 May 2006. Retrieved 1 June 2009. Jump up ^ Sandler, Linda ; Chris Scinta ; Bob Van Voris ; Jeff Green ( 1 June 2009 ). `` GM Files Bankruptcy to Spin Off More Competitive Firm ( Update4 ) ''. Bloomberg LP. Archived from the original on 5 December 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2009. Jump up ^ Sanger, David E. ; Jeff Zeleny ; Bill Vlasic ( 31 May 2009 ). `` G.M. to Seek Bankruptcy and a New Start : A Risky Bet to Save an Icon of American Capitalism ''. New York Times. Retrieved 1 June 2009. Jump up ^ Sanger, David E. ( 31 May 2009 ). `` G.M. to Seek Bankruptcy and a New Start ''. New York Times. Retrieved 1 June 2009. Jump up ^ Maynard, Micheline ( 29 May 2009 ). `` After 93 Years, G.M. Shares Go Out on a Low Note ''. New York Times. Retrieved 1 June 2009. Jump up ^ `` Opel and Vauxhall to go to Magna ''. BBC News. 10 September 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2009. Jump up ^ `` Jobs concerns remain at Vauxhall ''. BBC News. 10 September 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2009. Jump up ^ General Motors Scraps Vauxhall and Opel Sale, Ending Magna Deal Sky News, 3 November 2009 ^ Jump up to : Eberle, Ulrich ; von Helmolt, Rittmar ( 14 May 2010 ). `` Sustainable transportation based on electric vehicle concepts : a brief overview ''. Royal Society of Chemistry. Retrieved 8 June 2010. Jump up ^ Russell Hotten ( 17 May 2012 ). `` BBC News -- Vauxhall 's Ellesmere Port plant to build new Astra ''. Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2012. Jump up ^ Costas, Pitas ( 10 March 2017 ). `` Carmakers eye more UK suppliers to handle hard Brexit ''. Reuters. Retrieved 10 March 2017. Jump up ^ Vauxhall expect the technology to be ready for market introduction by 2016 Jump up ^ Chris Choi ( 14 December 2012 ). `` Vauxhall Zafira upgraded to full safety recall status ''. itv.com. Retrieved 15 December 2015. Jump up ^ `` Exclusive : PSA agrees to buy Opel from GM, wins board approval - sources ''. Reuters. 3 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017. Jump up ^ Vauxhall Carlton Jump up ^ Carlton and Royale - Vauxhall 's money spinners for the ' 80s, Motor, 14 October 1978 Jump up ^ European Motor Business, Issues 24 - 27, Economist Intelligence Unit, 1991, page 112 Jump up ^ Chevrolet Astra GLS, um belga naturalizado brasileiro que chegou disposto a enfrentar os alemães e italianos, Oficina Brasil, 10 August 2015 Jump up ^ Opel Astra Club - 1.6 L - Patrol - April 2001 model Car Jump up ^ `` VAUXHALL HA - VIVA ''. http://vauxpedianet.uk2sitebuilder.com/vauxhall-ha---viva. External link in website = ( help ) ; Missing or empty url = ( help ) ^ Jump up to : `` Locations ''. Opel. Retrieved 25 February 2014. Jump up ^ `` Vauxhall 's history in Luton ''. BBC News. Retrieved 15 May 2012. Jump up ^ `` Redevelopment of former Vauxhall site given the go - ahead ''. Luton Today. 8 January 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014. Jump up ^ `` Vauxhall 's Griffin Flies to New Horizon ''. Vauxhall Motors. 10 September 2009. Archived from the original on 17 August 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2009. Jump up ^ Fifield, Dominic ( 10 January 2011 ). `` England 's new sponsor plans to revive home internationals ''. London : The Guardian. Retrieved 20 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` FA signs Vauxhall sponsorship deal ''. BBC News. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` Vauxhall makes BTCC return with Power Maxed Racing ''. BTCC CRAZY. 22 November 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vauxhall vehicles. Vauxhall Motors at Curlie ( based on DMOZ ) Vauxhall UK official corporate website Vauxhall Media Site Vauxhall - VXR Vauxhall Motors A subsidiary of Groupe PSA Vehicles Cars Adam Astra Cascada Corsa Insignia Viva Zafira Crossovers / SUVs Crossland X Grandland X Mokka X Vans Corsavan Combo Movano Vivaro Historic and discontinued models 10 - 4 ( 1937 -- 47 ) 12 ( 1937 -- 46 ) 14 - 6 ( 1939 -- 48 ) 14 and 14 / 40 ( 1922 -- 27 ) 20 / 60 ( 1927 -- 30 ) 23 / 60 ( 1922 -- 26 ) 25 ( 1937 -- 40 ) 25 / 70 ( 1926 -- 28 ) 30 / 98 ( 1913 -- 22 ) A-Type ( 1911 -- 14 ) B - type ( 1911 -- 14 ) C - Type ( 1911 -- 13 ) D - type ( 1912 -- 22 ) Agila ( 2000 -- 15 ) Ampera ( 2012 -- 15 ) Antara ( 2006 -- 15 ) Arena ( 1997 -- 00 ) Astramax ( 1984 -- 92 ) Astravan ( 1992 -- 13 ) Belmont ( 1986 -- 91 ) Brava ( 1990 -- 98 ) Calibra ( 1990 -- 99 ) Carlton ( 1978 -- 94 ) Cavalier ( 1975 -- 95 ) Chevette ( 1975 -- 84 ) Cresta ( 1954 -- 72 ) Firenza ( 1970 -- 75 ) Frontera ( 1991 -- 2004 ) Magnum ( 1973 -- 78 ) Meriva ( 2003 -- 17 ) Midi ( 1990 -- 94 ) Monaro ( 2001 -- 05 ) Monterey ( 1994 -- 99 ) Nova ( 1983 -- 93 ) Omega ( 1994 -- 03 ) Rascal ( 1990 -- 93 ) Royale ( 1978 -- 83 ) Senator ( 1983 -- 94 ) Signum ( 2003 -- 08 ) Sintra ( 1996 -- 99 ) Tigra ( 1994 -- 09 ) Vectra ( 1995 -- 2008 ) Velox ( 1948 -- 65 ) Ventora ( 1968 -- 76 ) Viceroy ( 1978 -- 82 ) Victor ( 1957 -- 78 ) Viscount ( 1966 -- 72 ) Viva ( 1963 -- 79 ) VXR8 ( 2009 -- 17 ) VX220 ( 2001 -- 05 ) VX4 / 90 ( 1961 -- 72 ) Wyvern ( 1948 -- 57 ) Concept cars Equus HydroGen4 Monza Concept Silver Aero Silver Bullet SRV VX Lightning XVR Divisions and subsidiaries Bedford VXR People Duncan Aldred Wayne Cherry Gerry Marshall Laurence Pomeroy Factories Dunstable Ellesmere Port Luton Other GM platforms GM engines PSA engines GM transmissions Proving Grounds Dealer Team Vauxhall Intellilink Irmscher Opel Slant Four Vauxhall Motors F.C. Category Commons Links to related articles Groupe PSA Current Automobile Marques Peugeot Citroën DS Automobiles Opel Vauxhall Ambassador Motorcycle Marques Peugeot Motocycles Current Owners Dongfeng Motor Group ( 13 % ) The French Government ( 13 % ) The Peugeot Family ( 14 % ) Former Owners General Motors ( 7 % ) ( 2012 - 2013 ) Current Partners BMW ( Prince engine ) FCA / Fiat / Ram ( commercial vehicles, Sevel ) Dongfeng Motor Group ( 13 % owner of PSA ) Mitsubishi Motors ( Badge - engineering ) Former Partners Chrysler Europe General Motors Other Holdings Process Conception Ingénerie Sevel ( 100 % ) Faurecia ( 57.43 % ) Current Joint Ventures Toyota Peugeot Citroën Automobile Czech ( 50 % ) Dongfeng Peugeot - Citroën ( 50 % ) Changan PSA ( 50 % ) Iran Khodro - Peugeot ; IKAP ( 50 % ) Former Joint Ventures BMW Peugeot Citroën Electrification General Motors - PSA Alliance Guangzhou Peugeot Automobile Company Automobile engines Ford DLD engine Prince engine PRV engine PSA ES engine PSA EW / DW engine PSA TU engine PSA X engine PSA XU engine PSA XUD engine Manufacturing plants Buenos Aires Kenitra Madrid Mangualde Mulhouse Poissy Porto Real Rennes Sochaux Trnava Vigo Former or Defunct Marques or Subsidiaries Barreiros Chrysler Europe Citer SA Commer Gefco Hillman Humber Karrier Motaquip Simca Singer Sunbeam Talbot Related articles Automoto Christian Streiff List of PSA engines British car industry -- companies and marques Marque 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 0 6 8 0 6 8 0 6 8 0 6 8 0 6 8 0 6 8 0 6 8 0 6 8 0 6 8 0 6 8 0 6 8 0 Rolls - Royce Rolls - Royce Limited Rolls - Royce Limited & Bentley Rolls - Royce Motors Rolls - Royce Motors ( Vickers ) BMW & VW Group BMW Bentley Bentley Volkswagen Group Armstrong Siddeley Siddeley - Deasy Armstrong Whitworth Armstrong Siddeley Bristol Siddeley Rolls - Royce Limited Rolls - Royce plc Aston Martin Aston Martin Aston Martin Lagonda Ford PAG Aston Martin Lagonda Lagonda Lagonda Jaguar SS Cars Jaguar Jaguar & Daimler BMH BLMC / British Leyland Jaguar & Daimler Ford ( PAG ) Tata Daimler Daimler BSA BSA Lanchester Lanchester Rover Rover Company Rover Company Rover Company Austin Rover Group & Land Rover Group ( BL plc ) Rover Group ( BAe ) Rover Group ( BMW ) MG Rover Group ( PVH ) Land Rover Ford ( PAG ) Alvis Alvis BAE Systems Standard Standard Standard Triumph Leyland Motors British Motor Heritage Triumph Dawson Triumph BMW Riley Riley Nuffield Organisation BMC BMH MG Morris Garages ( MG ) Rover Group ( BMW ) MG Rover Group ( PVH ) SAIC & NAC SAIC Morris Morris Morris Wolseley Wolseley Austin Austin Austin Vanden Plas Vanden Plas Mini BMW Princess BMC BLMC / British Leyland Austin - Healey Austin ( BMC ) & Donald Healey Jensen Jensen Motors Britcar Holdings Jensen Cars Reliant Reliant Reliant Bond Bond AC AC Cars ( several ownership & company name changes ) Argyll Argyll Argyll Bristol Cars Bristol Cars Caterham Caterham Crossley Crossley Dutton Dutton Dutton Ginetta Ginetta Gordon - Keeble Peerless & Warwick Gordon - Keeble Jowett Jowett Blackburn Lea - Francis Lea - Francis Lotus Lotus General Motors Europe Proton McLaren McLaren Marcos Marcos Marcos Marcos Morgan Morgan Napier Napier Turner Turner TVR TVR Westfield Westfield Potenza Sports Cars GTM GTM Vauxhall Vauxhall Motors General Motors General Motors Europe Opel Vulcan Vulcan Hillman Hillman Humber Rootes Chrysler Europe ( Chrysler ) Peugeot ( PSA ) Humber Humber Singer Singer Rootes Sunbeam Sunbeam S.T.D. Motors Rootes ( as Sunbeam - Talbot ) Rootes Rootes Talbot Talbot Marque 0 6 8 0 6 8 0 6 8 0 6 8 0 6 8 0 6 8 0 6 8 0 6 8 0 6 8 0 6 8 0 6 8 0 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s Automotive industry in the United Kingdom Manufacturing in the United Kingdom Economy of the United Kingdom Companies and marques Commercial vehicle producers Current Alexander Dennis Plaxton Dennis Eagle Arrival IBC Vehicles JCB Leyland Trucks London EV Company Mellor Coachcraft Optare Smith Electric Vehicles Stevens Wrightbus Former Albion AEC Bedford Bristol British United Traction Carlyle Works Charles H Roe Clough, Smith Commer Daimler Dennis Duple East Lancashire Coachbuilders Eastern Coach Works ERF Foden Ford Southampton plant Guy Hallford Jensen Karrier LDV Leyland Bus Leyland Motors London Taxis International Longwell Green Coachworks Marshall Bus Metro Cammell Weymann Modec Northern Counties Park Royal Reeve Burgess Scammell Seddon Atkinson Sentinel Shelvoke & Drewry Straker - Squire Sunbeam Commercial Vehicles Thornycroft Tilling - Stevens Walter Alexander Coachbuilders Willowbrook Motorsport Advanced Engine Research Arena Motorsport Carlin Chevron Cars Cosworth Engine Developments Ltd Racing Point Force India Ford World Rally Team Fortec Hewland Ilmor Lola Cars McLaren Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains Mercedes AMG M - Sport Munchi 's Prodrive Radical Red Bull Racing Renault Sport F1 Team Ricardo RML Group Roger Dowson Engineering Sumo Power Team Dynamics Triple Eight Racing Van Diemen Williams F1 Wirth Xtrac Zytek Engineering Passenger car producers Current Ariel Aston Martin Bentley Crewe plant BMW Group Mini Plant Oxford Plant Swindon Rolls - Royce Goodwood plant Brabham Automotive Briggs Bristol Caparo Caterham Electric Car Corporation Ford of Britain Bridgend Engine Dagenham plant Dunton Technical Centre Ginetta Honda UK Jaguar Land Rover Jaguar Land Rover Castle Bromwich plant Gaydon Centre Halewood plant Solihull plant Whitley Engineering Centre Lagonda Lightning Lister Lotus McLaren McLaren Technology Centre SAIC Motor UK Eco Concept Morgan Nissan UK Noble Radical Spyker Toyota UK Vauxhall Ellesmere Port Westfield Zenos Kit cars Caterham Davrian GKD GTM JBA Motors Marc Nordon Racing Onyx Quantum Sylva Ultima Sports Westfield Former Alvis Ascari Austin Austin - Healey BMC BMH British Leyland Daimler Fenix MG Rover MG Longbridge plant Morris Peel Engineering Riley Rootes Rover Company Rover Group Standard Sunbeam Triumph Wolseley Suppliers and consultancies Current Caparo Vehicle Technologies Cosworth Cummins UK Dunlop Tyres GKN GKN Driveline Johnson Matthey Lotus Engineering MIRA Perkins Engines Pilkington Quaife Ricardo Tata Steel Europe Tickford Transport Research Laboratory Unipart Warwick Manufacturing Group Wipac Zytek Former Abbey Panels Dunlop Rubber Ferodo Gardner Hardy Spicer Henry Meadows Laycock Engineering Lucas Industries LucasVarity Tomkins White and Poppe Dealerships Arnold Clark Carcraft Ford Retail Group Group 1 Automotive Inchcape Jardine JCT600 Lookers Mercedes - Benz Retail Group H.R. Owen Pendragon Perrys Robins & Day Stoneacre Sytner Vertu Other services The AA ATS Euromaster Autoglass Auto Windscreens BCA Marketplace British Car Auctions British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association Green Flag Halfords Autocentre Halfords HiQ ( tyres ) Kwik Fit LeasePlan Lex Autolease National Tyres and Autocare RAC We Buy Any Car Government and regulatory bodies Department for Transport Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency Driving Standards Agency Vehicle Certification Agency Vehicle & Operator Services Agency Related topics AM Magazine Autocar Autosport Auto Trader Auto Express Buses Car Classic & Sports Car Coach & Bus Week Commercial Motor Evo Fast Car Fifth Gear Institute of Advanced Motorists Motor Sport Octane Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Top Gear ( magazine ) Top Gear ( tv series ) What Car ? Category Selected Royal Warrant holders of the British Royal Family By Appointment to HM The Queen Abels Moving Services Ainsworths Angostura Limited AkzoNobel Autoglym Axminster Carpets Bendicks Bentley Motors Bollinger Britvic BT Burberry Cadbury Carphone Warehouse Castrol Charbonnel et Walker DAKS DHL Express Dorma Ede & Ravenscroft Fortnum & Mason Frank Smythson Gieves & Hawkes H.P. Bulmer Henry Poole & Co J. Barbour and Sons James Purdey and Sons Jaguar Cars John Lewis John Lobb Land Rover Louis Roederer Mappin & Webb Martini & Rossi Minky Molton Brown Moët & Chandon Nestlé Procter & Gamble UK Richer Sounds Roberts Radio Ryvita Schweppes Spode Steinway & Sons Tanqueray Twinings Unilever UK Vauxhall Motors Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Waitrose Weetabix Wilkin & Sons William Drake Wolsey Worcestershire Medal Service By Appointment to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh Boots Opticians DAKS Ede & Ravenscroft Frank Smythson Gieves & Hawkes Hatchards Holland & Holland J. Barbour and Sons James Purdey and Sons John Lobb Land Rover Lyle & Scott Penhaligon 's Truefitt & Hill By Appointment to HRH The Prince of Wales Ainsworths Aston Martin Autoglym Bentley Motors Burberry Crabtree & Evelyn DAKS Ede & Ravenscroft Frank Smythson Gieves & Hawkes Holland & Holland J. Barbour and Sons Jaguar Cars James Purdey and Sons John Lobb Land Rover Laphroaig Linn Products Minky Penhaligon 's Peter Jones Ritz Hotel Roberts Radio Shepherd Neame Taylors of Harrogate Turnbull & Asser Vauxhall Motors Waitrose Weetabix Winsor & Newton Category Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vauxhall_Motors&oldid=857099592 '' Categories : Vauxhall Motors Car manufacturers of the United Kingdom Motor vehicle manufacturers of the United Kingdom Former defence companies of the United Kingdom History of the tank British Royal Warrant holders British subsidiaries of foreign companies British companies established in 1857 Companies based in Luton Manufacturing companies established in 1857 Emergency services equipment makers Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1857 1857 establishments in England English brands PSA Group Opel subsidiaries Car brands Hidden categories : CS1 maint : Extra text : authors list All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from November 2017 CS1 errors : external links Pages using web citations with no URL EngvarB from January 2018 Use dmy dates from March 2018 All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from December 2014 Articles with Curlie links Talk Contents About Wikipedia Afrikaans Català Čeština Dansk Deutsch Español Euskara فارسی Français 한국어 Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית ქართული Magyar Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk پنجابی Polski Português Română Русский Саха тыла Scots Simple English Slovenčina Slovenščina کوردی Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska Türkçe Українська 中文 29 more Edit links This page was last edited on 29 August 2018, at 15 : 26 ( UTC ). 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Question: how many vauxhall dealers are there in the uk
Answer: Two