Vauxhall Motors facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Vauxhall Motors Limited

Formerly	Alex Wilson and Company Vauxhall Iron Works
Type	Subsidiary
Industry	Automotive
Founded	1857; 168 years ago (1857)
Founder	Alexander Wilson
Headquarters	Chalton, Bedfordshire, England
Number of locations	Two manufacturing facilities in the United Kingdom
Area served	United Kingdom
Key people	James Taylor (MD)
Products	Cars Commercial vehicles
Production output	118,182 (2016 passenger cars)
Services	Vehicle financing
Revenue	GB£3,162.8 million (2019)
Operating income	GB£70.7 million (2019)
Net income	GB£59.5 million (2019)
Total assets	GB£-127 million (2019)
Total equity	GB£-386.2 million (2019)
Number of employees	4,029 (2011)
Parent	Stellantis

Vauxhall Motors Limited is a British car company. Its main office is in Chalton, Bedfordshire, England. Vauxhall became part of Stellantis in January 2021.

Vauxhall is one of the oldest car makers and sellers in the United Kingdom. It sells cars, electric vehicles, and light vans under the Vauxhall name. In the past, it also sold vans, buses, and trucks under the Bedford brand.

Alexander Wilson started Vauxhall in 1857. At first, it made pumps and marine engines. In 1863, Andrew Betts Brown bought the company. He started making cranes and changed the name to "Vauxhall Iron Works". The company began making cars in 1903. Around this time, its name changed back to Vauxhall. The American car company General Motors (GM) bought Vauxhall in 1925. In 1930, Bedford Vehicles was created as a part of Vauxhall to make commercial vehicles.

Vauxhall used to be known for making luxury cars. But after General Motors bought it, Vauxhall started making cars for the general public. Since 1980, most Vauxhall cars have been very similar to those made by Opel. Opel is another car brand owned by GM, based in Germany. Most Vauxhall models are designed in Rüsselsheim am Main, Germany. In the early 1980s, Vauxhall cars were only sold in the UK. Vauxhall has also been involved in car racing, including rallying and the British Touring Car Championship. After 92 years, GM sold Opel and Vauxhall to Groupe PSA in 2017.

Vauxhall has big factories in Luton and Ellesmere Port. The Luton factory makes commercial vehicles. The Ellesmere Port factory makes cars. The Luton plant has about 900 workers. It can build around 100,000 vehicles each year. In 2012, the Ellesmere Port plant had about 1,880 workers. It could make around 187,000 vehicles a year. Vauxhall cars are also made in Opel factories in Germany, Spain, and Poland.

Today, Vauxhall sells cars like the Astra (a small family car) and the Corsa (a supermini). They also sell SUVs like the Crossland, Mokka, and Grandland. Vauxhall has high-performance versions of some models called GSe. Some important older Vauxhall cars include the Victor, Viva, Chevette, and Cavalier.

History of Vauxhall Cars

From the Start to 1925

A Scottish engineer named Alexander Wilson started the company in London in 1857. It was first called Alex Wilson and Company. From 1897, the company built pumps and marine engines. In 1903, they made their first car. It had a five-horsepower engine and was steered with a tiller. It had two forward gears but no reverse. About 70 of these cars were made that first year. In 1904, the car was improved with wheel steering and a reverse gear. One of these 1903 models was in the London-to-Brighton car run in 2018.

To grow, the company moved most of its production to Luton in 1905. The company was still called Vauxhall Iron Works until 1907. Then, it officially became 'Vauxhall Motors'. In its early years, Vauxhall was known for making sporty cars. After World War I, their car designs became simpler.

Much of Vauxhall's early success came from Laurence Pomeroy. He joined Vauxhall in 1906 as a young assistant. In 1907, the managing director asked Pomeroy to design an engine for a car. This car would enter the 1908 RAC and Scottish Reliability Trial. The cars did so well that Pomeroy became the chief designer.

Pomeroy's first design, the Y-Type Y1, was very successful in the 1908 trials. It climbed hills much faster than other cars. It also reached amazing speeds on the Brooklands track. The Vauxhall was so far ahead that the driver could relax. It covered 200 miles at an average speed of 46 mph. The car could even go up to 55 mph. The Y-Type won its class in the trial.

The Y-Type was so popular that Vauxhall decided to build it for sale. This car became the Vauxhall A-Type. Four different versions were made between 1908 and 1914. One last A-Type was put together in 1920. The A-Type Vauxhall could go up to 100 mph. It was one of the most praised three-litre cars of its time.

Two Vauxhall cars entered the 1910 Prince Henry Trials. They performed well, and copies were made for sale. These were officially called the C-type, but are now known as the Prince Henry. During the First World War, Vauxhall made many D-type cars. These were Prince Henry chassis with less powerful engines. They were used as staff cars for the British forces.

After the war ended in 1918, the D-type continued to be made. The sporty E-type was also still in production. Pomeroy left in 1919 and moved to the United States. C.E. King replaced him. Even though Vauxhall made good cars, expensive luxury cars were no longer in high demand. The company struggled to make money. Vauxhall then started looking for a big partner to help them.

From 1925 to 1945

On November 16, 1925, General Motors (GM) bought Vauxhall for $2.5 million. At that time, Vauxhall was only making about seventeen cars per week. The company was in financial trouble. Over the next five years, GM slowly changed Vauxhall's image. They wanted to make cars for a wider market. A key step was the low-cost two-litre Vauxhall Cadet in late 1930. The first Bedford truck, based on a Chevrolet, came out the next year. The Cadet was the first British car to have a synchromesh gearbox. This made changing gears much smoother.

General Motors continued to move Vauxhall towards the middle of the British car market. They wanted to make more common cars. These cars would use GM's large engineering and design resources. They would offer modern technology and good features at a fair price. Competitors included brands like Wolseley and Humber. The Cadet was the first step. This process sped up in June 1933 with the launch of the AS-type Light Six.

The Light Six had an all-steel body and a modern overhead valve six-cylinder engine. It came in 12- and 14-horsepower versions. The Luton factory was modernized and expanded. This meant the Light Six could be sold for £195 for the standard four-door car. This was much less than many older rivals. Vauxhall even offered both 12 and 14 models for the same price. Other body styles like two-door cars and convertibles were also available. The Light Six was an instant hit. Over 26,000 were sold in just over a year. The Luton factory started working 24 hours a day to meet demand. Vauxhall suddenly became a big player in the British car market.

After 15 months, the AS-type Light Six was replaced by the D-type Light Six. This car was mostly the same. It had small styling and interior updates. But it had one major engineering change: Dubonnet suspension was added to the front. This made the new Light Six the first mass-produced British car with independent front suspension. The Dubonnet system was a GM patent. It was also used on Chevrolet and Pontiac cars in the US and on Opel cars in Europe. The D-type Light Six cost between £205 and £245. This was still a lower price for a car of its size and features. It was another successful model for Vauxhall.

Vauxhall's overall plan was to make smaller cars with the newest engineering. Vauxhall and GM planned a completely new range of three cars. These would use advanced unibody construction. This means the body and frame are one piece. The first mass-produced unibody car, the Citroën Traction Avant, started production in 1934. That was the same year design work on the new Vauxhall range began. This change needed a lot of investment in the Luton factory. Vauxhall also hired many more engineers and designers. The first new model, the H-type 10-4, was released in September 1937. This was the first truly small Vauxhall in many years.

Besides its advanced unibody structure, the 10-4 also had an overhead valve engine. It had fully hydraulic brakes and Dubonnet front suspension. Other features included a full-synchromesh gearbox and mechanical windscreen wipers. Priced at £168-182, the 10-4 was only slightly more expensive than older cars from Austin and Morris. It cost about £30 more than the cheapest 10-horsepower car, the Ford 7W. The model was called "The £1 Million Motor Car". This showed the huge investment in its design and production. It was known for its excellent fuel economy, over 40 miles per gallon. The 10-4 was considered one of the best small cars in the world when it launched. Demand was so high that production could not keep up. Just six months after its launch, the 10,000th 10-4 left Luton. This was a production record for Vauxhall. The H-type 10-4 was the first and smallest of three advanced unibody cars. The I-type 12-4 came out in September 1938. It was like the 10-4 but with a longer base and bigger engine. The J-type 14-6, which replaced the old Light Six, came out the next month. Sales began in early 1939. This advanced range of three models was very popular. It put Vauxhall at the forefront of car engineering for the general public in Britain. However, World War II started in 1939. This greatly limited car sales just as the new Vauxhall range was becoming popular. Car production stopped completely in May 1940. By then, over 50,000 10-4s, 10,000 12-4s, and 15,000 14-6s had been built.

During World War II, Vauxhall stopped making cars at its Luton factory. Instead, it worked on the new Churchill tank. Despite a bombing raid in August 1940, the tank went from design to production in less than a year. More than 5,600 Churchill tanks were built. Luton also produced about 250,000 lorries for the war effort. The new Bedford Dunstable plant opened in 1942. Bedford designs were common in British military use. To boost morale, Adelaide Hall performed concerts at the Luton factory in February 1944. She entertained over 10,000 workers during their lunch breaks. This was the first time Vauxhall hired a star to perform for three days in a row.

From 1945 to 1970

Vauxhall was one of the first British car makers to switch from making war supplies to civilian products. This was easy because Bedford trucks, used by the military, could be sold to civilians. The first civilian trucks were made in August 1945. Vauxhall car production started again in September. These first models were almost the same as the three models launched before the war in 1939. They were now called the Vauxhall Ten, Twelve, and Fourteen. Each was available as a four-door car with a high trim level. This made production easier.

Government rules at the time meant 75% of production had to be exported. So, very few of these cars were sold in the United Kingdom. In 1946, the Twelve model stopped being separate. It shared the Ten's body but had a larger engine. These models were replaced by "new" cars in 1948. GM wanted Vauxhall to use only one body design. This would make production more efficient and lower costs. The British government also changed the car tax system. This meant there was no longer a need for different engine sizes for tax reasons. So, the new 1948 L-Type Vauxhalls had only two models. Both used the body structure and many parts of the H-type/Ten model. Vauxhall's design director, David Jones, managed to put new outer panels on the old body. This gave the L-type a modern look. It shared its basic shape with GM's Chevrolet Fleetline from the same year, but was much smaller.

The new models were the Wyvern and the Velox. The Wyvern used the four-cylinder engine from the Twelve. The Velox used a new, larger six-cylinder engine from the Fourteen. The L-Types kept the three-speed gearbox, hydraulic brakes, and Dubonnet suspension from the pre-war models. These older features were still advanced for their time. So, the Wyvern and Velox were competitive. The Velox, with its smooth and powerful engine in a small car, offered strong performance. It competed well against the V8-powered Ford Pilot.

The L-Types were replaced by truly new models, the E-Types, in 1951. These new cars had been in development since 1948. GM still limited Vauxhall to one body design. The range still had two models, mainly different by their engines. These were the four-cylinder EIX Wyvern and the six-cylinder EIP Velox. They were designed in Luton but looked a lot like the revised 1951 Chevrolets from Detroit. The E-Types continued to use unibody construction. But this was a brand new, much larger design. They offered much more space inside and for luggage. A lot of effort went into the interior design and reducing noise. The complex Dubonnet suspension was replaced with a more standard design.

Vauxhall planned new engines for the E-Types. But due to money and production limits, the first new Wyverns and Veloxes launched with the same engines as the old L-Type. In the bigger, heavier E-Type models, these engines performed poorly. The Wyvern's engine was almost unchanged since 1937. New, slightly larger engines were fitted to both models in 1952. This brought performance up to a good level. The E-Type Vauxhalls became strong competitors in the mid-size car market in Britain. They competed with cars like the Ford Consul/Zephyr and the older Hillman Minx. By 1953, Vauxhall was building 110,000 E-Type models a year in Luton. About half were exported, mostly to Commonwealth countries.

In 1955, the E-Type Vauxhalls got a new look. They had new front and interior styling. Minor mechanical improvements were also made. Most importantly, Vauxhall started offering three car models again. All still shared one body design. The Cresta was added. It was a more luxurious version of the Velox. Following GM's practice from America, Vauxhall began offering small updates each year. This kept cars fresh and encouraged owners to buy new ones.

Since car production restarted in 1945, Vauxhall sales were limited by how many cars they could build. Sometimes, customers had to wait a long time. The Luton factory was expanded in the early 1950s. But the main limit was the lack of space to build the car bodies. Expanding the body shop needed a lot of money. GM was slow to provide this. This was why Vauxhall used one body design for three different models.

In 1954, GM allowed Vauxhall to switch to a two-body lineup. They also invested in expanding the Luton factory. The new model would replace the four-cylinder Wyvern. It would be a smaller car using the same engine. This would make Vauxhall similar to other cars in the 1.5-litre class. The E-Type Wyvern was much larger than its direct competitors. The new car would launch in 1957. New Velox/Cresta models would launch at the same time. These could be slightly larger since they no longer shared a body with a smaller car.

The small model, called the F-Type Victor, was announced in February 1957. It had a new unitary structure and independent front suspension. It also had a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a three-speed manual gearbox. The engine was from the old E-Type Wyvern. But it was improved to use new high-octane fuel. This gave it more power. The Victor's style was very American. It looked a lot like the famous 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air. It had tailfins, prominent 'flutes' on the bonnet, and wrap-around windows. A year after its launch, the Victor also became Vauxhall's first factory-built estate car.

The new P-Type Velox/Cresta models were announced in October 1957. Like the Victor, these used updated engines and parts from the E-Type models. They had a new, larger, and very flashy body. American styling was again very clear. This time, it was heavily influenced by a 1954 Cadillac concept car called the Park Avenue.

Both new Vauxhall models continued the success of their older versions. The Victor set new sales records for Vauxhall. In the late 1950s, it was Britain's most exported car. It was sold in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and other countries. The model was also sold in Canada (as the Envoy) and in the USA (through Pontiac dealerships). Nearly 400,000 F-Type Victors were built in Luton between 1957 and 1961. The P-Type models did not sell as many as the entire E-Type range. But over 180,000 were built between 1957 and 1962. Over 100,000 of those cars were exported.

Both the Victor and the Velox/Cresta were criticized for their very American styling. Many people thought it was too flashy for British tastes. Both models also quickly became known for rusting badly. The F-Type Victor was especially affected. This was due to thin steel, places where moisture could get trapped, and a plastic coating that trapped water once it cracked. Also, the Victor was built in much larger numbers than the Luton plant was used to.

A new factory opened in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, in 1962. At first, it made parts for the Luton production lines. Then, in 1964, it started making cars.

In 1963, Vauxhall started making the Vauxhall Viva. This was a small family car that competed with the Ford Anglia. The German version of this car was sold as the Opel Kadett. The Vauxhall Viva was also launched in Australia in May 1964. In 1966, Vauxhall's Slant Four engine began production. This was the first engine to use a rubber timing belt. Also, the FD Victor was launched at the Earls Court Motor Show. Many consider it one of Vauxhall's best British designs.

During the 1960s, Vauxhall gained a reputation for making cars that rusted easily. The rust protection in models was greatly improved. But this reputation stayed with the company until at least the early 1980s.

In 1967, Vauxhall received a Royal Warrant. This meant they were official Motor Vehicle Manufacturers to HM The Queen. The warrant of HRH The Prince of Wales was added in 1994.

By the late 1960s, Vauxhall was selling tens of thousands of its most popular models. These included the small Viva and the larger Victor.

From 1970 to 1990

In 1970, the HC Viva was launched. It became Vauxhall's best-selling car of the decade. It was among the top 10 best-selling cars in Britain every year until 1976. Production ended in 1979, and the Viva name was stopped after 16 years. In 1973, the Vauxhall Firenza "Droopsnoot" coupe was shown at the Earls Court Motor Show. This car introduced Vauxhall's new aerodynamic look for all its future 1970s models.

By 1973, the Victor was losing sales. The market was increasingly dominated by the Ford Cortina. Vauxhall was far behind market leaders like Ford in sales. Most of its cars struggled to keep up with Chrysler UK.

Vauxhall's sales started to increase from 1975. This was thanks to two important new models. The Chevette was a small three-door hatchback. It was the first car of its kind built in Britain. The Cavalier was a stylish four-door saloon. It was designed to compete directly with the very popular Ford Cortina. A two-door coupe and three-door "sport hatch" joined the Cavalier range by 1978. But there was never an estate version. The Cavalier helped Vauxhall gain back ground in this important market. The Chevette was very popular in the growing small car market. More buyers chose smaller cars after the 1973 oil crisis.

The Chevette range later included a three-door estate and two or four-door saloons. Both models were based on cars made by Opel, GM's German company. The Chevette was based on the Opel Kadett, but with a different front end. The Chevette and Kadett were built on GM's T-Car platform. Similarly, the Cavalier was based on the Opel Ascona. But it had the front end of the Manta.

This marked the end of a long process by GM to combine its two European companies. GM preferred Opel, which was larger and more successful. Since the early 1960s, Vauxhalls were designed and built in the UK. But they increasingly shared their design and engineering with Opel cars. For example, the Viva was similar to the Kadett, and the Victor to the Rekord. Even if the two cars were different, they had few interchangeable parts.

From the late 1960s to the early 1970s, the UK faced economic problems. Car quality declined, and there were many strikes. In contrast, West Germany had an economic boom. Also, the UK joined the European Economic Community in 1973. This made it less desirable to have two separate car lines for similar markets.

The FE Series Victor, launched in 1972, was the last all-British Vauxhall. After the Chevette and Cavalier came out, almost all future Vauxhalls would be slightly restyled Opels. This was called "Opelisation" by the company. The exceptions were based on models from other parts of GM. However, Vauxhall kept its two British factories in Luton and Ellesmere Port. Most cars with the Vauxhall badge were still built in the UK.

The Opel-based Vauxhalls greatly improved the design and build quality of Vauxhall cars. They were now strong rivals to Ford cars. By the end of the 1970s, Vauxhall had significantly increased its market share. It was quickly catching up to Ford and British Leyland.

In 1978, Vauxhall launched its new Carlton saloon and estate. These were updated versions of the German-built Opel Rekord. This strengthened Vauxhall's position in the executive car market. A year later, a more expensive saloon, the Senator, was launched under the Opel brand. It finally became available as a Vauxhall from 1983.

By 1979, Vauxhall had greatly increased its market share. It was still behind Ford and British Leyland. But it had overtaken Talbot. By this time, GM decided to stop selling the Vauxhall brand in most other European markets. They preferred Opel. This meant Vauxhall stopped exporting cars. Exports to Continental Europe had dropped from 32,000 in 1970 to 12,900 in 1978. By 1981, only Chevettes were sold in Germany. Opel-built cars were exported to the UK and badged as Vauxhalls. But no Vauxhall-built cars were exported as Opels. Vauxhall would not resume left-hand drive production for export until 1990.

Similarly, the Opel brand was only used for sporty models in the UK. With the success of new Vauxhall products in the early 1980s, the Manta was the only Opel-badged car imported to the UK by the end of 1984. When the Manta was stopped in 1988, Opel models were no longer officially imported to the UK. Its replacement, the Calibra, was badged as a Vauxhall in the UK.

In early 1980, Vauxhall entered the modern family hatchback market. Its Astra range replaced the older Viva. It quickly became popular. The Astra was a rebadged version of the first front-wheel drive Opel Kadett. The Kadett had launched in 1979 and was sold alongside the Astra for several years. At first, it was imported from Opel's plant in Bochum. Later, it was produced at the Vauxhall plant in Ellesmere Port.

In 1981, the company released the Mk2 Cavalier. This was the first Vauxhall of its size to offer front-wheel drive and a hatchback body style. Built at the Luton plant, it greatly boosted Vauxhall's success. Cavalier sales in 1982 almost tripled from 1981. They peaked at over 130,000 by 1984. During that time, Vauxhall brand sales more than doubled. In 1983, an estate version was added. It was based on the Camira made in Australia by Holden. The tailgates for the Vauxhall version were built there and shipped to Luton. It was Britain's second-best selling car in 1984 and 1985. It often competed with the Ford Sierra for the top spot in the large family car market. The Cavalier was relaunched in 1988. This new version was praised for its sleek looks and much better resistance to rust.

April 1983 saw the launch of the Nova supermini. This was a rebadged version of the Spanish-built Opel Corsa. It was the new entry-level model in the Vauxhall range. It was available as a hatchback or a saloon. It was built only at the Zaragoza plant in Spain. This completed Vauxhall's renewal. By the end of the 1980s, it had overtaken Austin as Britain's second-most popular carmaker. The Nova's arrival also meant the end of the Chevette in 1984, after almost a decade of production.

The Astra further strengthened its market position with a new model in autumn 1984. It had an aerodynamic design, similar to Ford's larger Sierra.

In 1984, the aerodynamic Vauxhall Astra Mk2, built at Ellesmere Port, became the first Vauxhall car to be named European Car of the Year. From spring 1985, the Vauxhall Nova was also available as a four-door saloon and five-door hatchback.

In January 1986, Vauxhall launched the Belmont. This was a saloon version of the Astra. It offered more interior space and was almost as big as a Cavalier. However, this car did not sell as well as Vauxhall hoped. From 1989, it was renamed the Astra Belmont.

Vauxhall won another "European Car of the Year" award with its new Vauxhall Carlton. This was a rebadged Opel-built vehicle, called Opel Omega in the rest of Europe. It won the award for 1987. A year after the MK2 Carlton launched, Vauxhall updated its flagship Senator. This created a new generation luxury saloon.

The Luton-built Cavalier (Mk3) entered its third generation in 1988. It had a sleek new design that made it even more popular. The Calibra coupé followed in 1989. It was the most aerodynamic production car in the world when it launched. Between the Cavalier and Senator was the Opel-built Carlton. It was relaunched in 1986 and voted 1987 European Car of the Year. It was a large four-door family saloon. The two sports versions of the Carlton were the 3000 GSi and the Lotus Carlton. The Lotus Carlton was aimed at families who wanted a fast car. At 175 mph, it was considered the fastest four-door production car at the time. The latest generation of Vauxhall models helped to remove the image of rusting cars. This image had put off potential buyers for a long time.

By 1990, Vauxhall was getting ready to launch the MK3 Astra. It was also developing its first 4X4 off-road vehicle. A replacement for the Nova was also being developed.

From 1990 to 2000

In 1991, Vauxhall's main office moved to Griffin House. This building used to be where the company designed and tested cars. In the same year, the third-generation Vauxhall Astra went on sale. Opel versions also started using the Astra name. The saloon version was called Astra, not Belmont. Vauxhall worked with Isuzu to make the Frontera. This was a four-wheel drive off-roader. It came in short and long versions.

In 1993, the Cavalier was very popular. It was Britain's most popular large family car, with over 130,000 sales. The third-generation Astra, relaunched in 1991, sold 100,000 units. It was closing the gap with the best-selling Ford Escort. The Nova, which was ten years old, was stopped in 1993. It was replaced by the new Corsa. This car adopted the European name. Its unique style and practical interior attracted more sales than the Nova.

In 1994, GM stopped making Bedford Vehicles. Their profits were falling. Bedford Vehicles was Vauxhall's commercial vehicle division. It had made successful vans, trucks, and lorries since the 1930s. The last "true" Bedford vans had already stopped production. They were replaced by vans built under license from Isuzu and Suzuki. These included the Midi and Rascal. Production of these models continued in Luton. They were now badged as Vauxhall but built by a separate company called IBC (Isuzu-Bedford Commercials). Also in 1994, the Vauxhall Carlton name was stopped after 16 years. The Omega took its place. It was the first model to have the new "V" grille. Vauxhall also added another 4x4 vehicle, the Isuzu-based Monterey. Vauxhall entered the "compact coupé" market with its new Corsa-based Tigra model.

The Cavalier name was stopped in 1995 after 20 years. Vauxhall adopted the common Vectra name for its replacement. This completed GM's plan to give all Vauxhall and Opel models the same names. By this time, many left-hand drive Opel Vectras were made at Vauxhall's Luton plant. The next year, Luton became the only place to make the estate version. The Vectra received disappointing feedback from the public and journalists. Yet, it was still very popular. For a while after the 1999 update, it was even more popular than Ford's highly praised Mondeo. In 1996, Vauxhall launched the short-lived Sintra large MPV. The Astra entered its fourth generation in 1998. It offered better build quality and handling than all its previous versions.

In 1999, the seven-seater compact MPV Zafira went on sale. It was based on the Astra chassis. The Vauxhall Monterey was removed from sale in the UK. However, it continued to sell in the rest of Europe as an Opel.

In the late 1990s, Vauxhall received criticism in car surveys. In 1998, a Top Gear survey said the Vauxhall Vectra was the least satisfying car to own in Britain. A year later, Vauxhall was ranked last in the same magazine's survey. Vauxhall cars were criticized for breakdowns, build-quality problems, and other issues. This meant that quality did not match sales success. Nevertheless, Vauxhall was selling well. By 1999, it was closer to Ford in sales than it had been in years.

From 2000 to 2010

In 2000, Vauxhall entered the sports car market with the Lotus-based VX220 roadster. It also re-entered the coupé market with the Astra Coupé. The new Agila city car and a second-generation Corsa supermini also went on sale. On December 12, 2000, Vauxhall announced that car production at its Luton plant would stop in 2002. The last vehicle was made in March 2002. Production of its replacement moved to Ellesmere Port, alongside the Astra. Making vans continued at the IBC Vehicles plant in Luton. On May 17, 2006, Vauxhall announced 900 job losses at Ellesmere Port. This was part of GM's worldwide staff reductions.

In 2002, the new Vectra went on sale. A large hatchback called the Signum arrived the next year. 2002 was one of Vauxhall's best years for sales in the UK. The Corsa was Britain's second-most popular new car. It gave Vauxhall the top spot in British small car sales for the first time. The Astra was Britain's third-best selling car that year. The Vectra and the Zafira (a compact MPV launched in 1999) were just outside the top 10. The second-generation Vectra launched in 2002. It was improved but still not a class leader. Sales were lower due to a drop in popularity of D-segment cars. However, an update in 2005 boosted sales.

In 2003, Vauxhall Omega production ended after nine years. There was no direct replacement. The Meriva mini-MPV was launched. Perhaps the most important Vauxhall product of the 2000s was the fifth-generation Astra. It launched in early 2004 and was praised for its dramatic styling. It was an instant hit. It was the nation's second-best selling car in 2005 and 2006. It was the strongest competitor yet for the Ford Focus. Many police forces in the UK used the Astra as their standard patrol vehicle. Also in 2004, Frontera production ended after 13 years, with no direct replacement.

In 2006, the third generation of the Vauxhall Corsa went on sale. It had its world premiere at the 2006 British International Motor Show in ExCeL London. The second-generation Corsa had been Britain's most popular small car. But by 2006, it was falling behind its competitors. So, a new model was launched. This Corsa sold much better than previous Corsas. It was an instant hit. Also in 2006, the second-generation Zafira was the 10th-best selling car in the UK. This was the first time an MPV was in the top 10 in Britain.

In 2007, Vauxhall's new 4x4, the Vauxhall Antara, was released in July. Vauxhall's powerful VXR8 was also introduced. It had 306 kW (410 bhp).

In 2008, Vauxhall updated its logo. The Vauxhall Insignia was launched at the 2008 British International Motor Show. It replaced the Vectra and won another "European Car of the Year" award. Vauxhall also launched the new Agila city car.

In 2009, a new generation of the Vauxhall Astra was launched.

On May 30, 2009, a deal was announced to separate the Vauxhall and Opel brands into a new company. On June 1, 2009, Vauxhall Motors' parent company, General Motors, filed for bankruptcy. The sale of Vauxhall and Opel was being discussed. This was part of a plan by the German government to protect the businesses from GM's asset sales. The sale to Magna International was agreed on September 10, 2009. Magna promised to keep the Ellesmere Port factory open until 2013. But on November 3, 2009, the GM board canceled the Magna deal. They decided that Opel and Vauxhall Motors were vital to GM's global plans.

From 2010 to 2016

In 2010, the new Vauxhall Movano was launched. A new Meriva, shown at the Geneva Motor Show, went on sale in mid-2010.

The Ampera E-Rev, an extended-range electric vehicle, went on sale in the UK in 2011. It had a 16 kWh battery that gave 40 miles of electric driving. A 1.4-litre petrol engine extended the car's range to 350 miles. It won the "European Car of the Year" award. A new Vauxhall Combo went on sale in late 2011. A refreshed 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. Sales began 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 Astra production from mainland Europe to the UK. The company said it would invest £125 million in the Ellesmere Port factory. It would also spend about £1 billion in the UK parts sector. It was reported that Astras made at Ellesmere Port contained only 25% British parts. This was much lower than the typical 50 to 55% local content needed for trade deals.

The HydroGen4 was the successor to the fuel-cell vehicle Opel HydroGen3. It was developed by General Motors/Opel and shown in 2007. It was expected to be available in 2016.

In December 2015, safety officials asked Vauxhall to recall all Zafira B models. This was due to a worrying number of "improper repairs."

From 2017 to Today

On March 3, 2017, news came out that General Motors had a deal with Groupe PSA. PSA would buy the Vauxhall and Opel brands and their car business.

On March 6, 2017, GM and Groupe PSA announced their agreement. PSA would buy GM's Vauxhall and Opel for €2.2 billion.

Before the sale, ownership of all GM factories and sales groups in Europe (except a development center and Cadillac/Chevrolet sales) was moved to Adam Opel GmbH. Then, in June 2017, it was transferred to Opel Automobile GmbH. This company's ownership was transferred to Peugeot S.A. by August 1, 2017. The original Adam Opel GmbH still belongs to GM. Its only purpose is to pay pensions to former Opel workers.

On September 18, 2017, Vauxhall's official company name changed. It went from General Motors UK Limited back to its original Vauxhall Motors Limited.

On May 7, 2019, Vauxhall moved its main office from Griffin House in Luton to new offices at Chalton House. This is in Chalton, just north of Luton.

On January 16, 2021, Groupe PSA and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles merged. They formed a new company called Stellantis.

Current Car Models

Cars for Passengers

The tables below show the Vauxhall cars currently made or announced as of 2022:

Model	Image	Type of Car	Body Style
Astra (Also known as Opel Astra) (Was previously known as Opel Kadett from 1980 to 1991) (Made from: 1980–present)		Small family car	Hatchback Sports Tourer (Estate)
Corsa (Also known as Opel Corsa) (Made from: 1993–present)		Supermini	Hatchback
Mokka (Also known as Opel Mokka) (Made from: 2012–present)		Small crossover SUV	Crossover SUV
Crossland (Also known as Opel Crossland) (Made from: 2017–present)		Small crossover SUV	Crossover SUV
Grandland (Also known as Opel Grandland) (Made from: 2017–present)		Compact crossover SUV	Crossover SUV
Combo Life (Also known as Peugeot Rifter/Citroën Berlingo) (Made from: 2018–present)		MPV	MPV
Vivaro Life (Also known as Peugeot Traveller/Citroën SpaceTourer) (Made from: 2019–present)		MPV	MPV

Commercial Vehicles (Vans)

Model	Image	Type of Vehicle	Body Style
Combo (Also known as Peugeot Partner/Citroën Berlingo) (Was previously known as Opel Combo from 1993 to 2012) (Was previously known as Fiat Doblò from 2012 to 2018) (Made from: 1993–present)		Panel van	Van
Movano (Also known as Fiat Ducato) (Was previously known as Renault Master from 1998 to 2021) (Made from: 1998–present)		Light commercial vehicle	Van Chassis cab Crew cab
Vivaro (Also known as Peugeot Expert/Citroën Jumpy) (Was previously known as Renault Trafic from 2001 to 2019) (Made from: 2001–present)		Light commercial vehicle	Van Chassis cab

VXR Performance Models

The VXR range was Vauxhall's line of high-performance cars. It was similar to Opel's OPC range in Europe and Holden's HSV range in Australia. VXR models included fast hatchbacks like the Corsa VXR and Astra VXR. It also included imported Australian muscle cars like the Monaro and VXR8.

The VXR badge showed the combined technology of the global General Motors group. It also highlighted the expertise of consultants like Lotus and the Triple Eight Racing Team.

After Stellantis (then PSA Group) bought Vauxhall in 2017, the VXR brand was put on hold. The table below shows all VXR vehicles made or sold by Vauxhall so far.

Corsa VXR		Supermini	Hatchback
Astra VXR		Small family car	Hatchback Coupé
Vectra VXR		Large family car	Saloon Hatchback Sports Tourer (Estate)
Insignia VXR		Large family car	Saloon Hatchback Sports Tourer (Estate)
VXR8		Large family car	Saloon
Meriva VXR		Mini MPV	MPV
Zafira VXR		MPV	MPV
VX220		Roadster	Coupé Convertible
Monaro VXR		Muscle car	Coupé
VXR8 Maloo		Ute	Pick-up

Past Car Models

Passenger Cars (Older Models)

Cars designed by Vauxhall before being bought by General Motors:

• 1-Cylinder (1903–1904)
• 3-Cylinder (1904–1907)
• 4-Cylinder (1905–1910)
• A-Type (1908–1915)
• B-Type (1910–1915)
• C-Type "Prince Henry" (1911–1914)
• D-type (1912–1922)
• E-type (1913–1927)
• 23–60 (1922–1925)
• 14 and 14–40 (1922–1927)
• 25–70 (1925–1927)

Cars designed after General Motors bought Vauxhall:

• 20–60 (1927–1930)
  • 80 (1930–1933)
• Cadet (1931–1933)
• Light Six (1933–1939)
• Big Six (1933–1940)
• 12-4 (1937–1946)
  • 10-4 (1937–1947)
• 14-6 (1939–1948)
• Wyvern (1948–1957)
  • Velox (1948–1965)
    • Cresta (1954–1972)
      • Viscount (1966–1972)
• Victor (1957–1978)
  • VX4/90 (1961–1972, performance version of Victor)
  • Ventora (1968–1978)
• Viva (1963) (1963–1979)
  • Firenza (1971–1975)
  • Magnum (1973–1978)
  • Viva (2015) (2015–2019, rebadged Chevrolet Spark)
• Chevette (1975–1984, rebadged Opel Kadett)
  • Belmont (1986–1991, rebadged Opel Kadett)
• Cavalier (1975–1995, rebadged Opel Ascona (Cavalier Mk 1 (sedan) (1975–1981) & Cavalier Mk 2 (1981–1988)) / Opel Manta (Cavalier Mk 1 (coupe) (1975–1981)) / Opel Vectra (Cavalier Mk 3 (1988–1995)))
  • Calibra (1990–1997, rebadged Opel Calibra)
  • Vectra (1995–2008, rebadged Opel Vectra)
    • Signum (2003–2008, rebadged Opel Signum)
• Viceroy (1978–1982, rebadged Opel Commodore)
  • Royale (1978–1983, rebadged Opel Senator (sedan) / Opel Monza (coupe))
    • Senator (1983–1993, rebadged Opel Senator)
  • Carlton (1978–1994, rebadged Opel Rekord (Carlton Mk 1 (1978–1986)) / Opel Omega (Carlton Mk 2 (1986–1994)))
    • Omega (1994–2003, rebadged Opel Omega)
• Nova (1983–1993, rebadged Opel Corsa)
• Albany (1990–1994, rebadged Isuzu Fargo)
• Frontera (1991–2004, rebadged Isuzu MU Wizard)
• Brava (1992–2002, rebadged Isuzu Faster)
• Monterey (1994–1998, rebadged Isuzu Trooper)
• Tigra (1994) (1994–2001, rebadged Opel Tigra)
  • Tigra (2004) (2004–2009, rebadged Opel Tigra)
• Sintra (1996–1999, rebadged Chevrolet Venture)
• Zafira (1999–2018, rebadged Opel Zafira)
• Agila (2000–2014, rebadged Suzuki Solio (Agila Mk 1 (2000–2008)) / Suzuki Splash (Agila Mk 2 (2008–2014)))
• Monaro (2001–2005, rebadged Holden Monaro)
• VX220 (2001–2005, rebadged Opel Speedster)
• Meriva (2003–2017, rebadged Opel Meriva)
• Antara (2006–2015, rebadged Opel Antara)
• VXR8 (2007–2017, rebadged HSV Clubsport (VXR8 Mk 1 (2007–2010)) / HSV GTS (VXR8 Mk 2 (2011–2017)))
  • VXR8 Maloo (2008–2013, rebadged HSV Maloo)
• Insignia (2008–2022, rebadged Opel Insignia)
• Ampera (2012–2015, rebadged Chevrolet Volt)
• Cascada (2013–2018, rebadged Opel Cascada)
• Adam (2013–2019, rebadged Opel Adam)

Commercial Vehicles (Older Models)

Bedford branded

• HC (1938–1952)
• OB (1939–1951)
• M-Series (1939–1952)
• OY (1939–1953)
• S (1950–1959)
• SB (1950–1986)
• CA (1952–1969)
• TA (1953–1958)
  • TJ (1958–1986)
• TK (1960–1986)
• HA (1963–1983)
  • Beagle (1964–1973)
• VAL (1965–1975)
• CF (1969–1988)
• Y-Series (1971–1986)
• TM (1974–1986)
• KB (1976–1988, rebadged Isuzu Faster)
• TL (1980–1986)
• Dormobile

Vauxhall branded

• Midi (1985–1994, rebadged Isuzu Fargo)
• Astramax (1986–1993, rebadged Opel Combo)
• Rascal (1986–1993, rebadged Suzuki Carry (truck) / Suzuki Every (van))
• Brava (1992–2002, rebadged Isuzu Faster)
• Arena (1997–2001, rebadged Renault Trafic)

Concept Cars (Future Ideas)

• GT (1964)
• XVR (1966)
• SRV (1970)
• Scamp (1974)
• Silver Bullet (1976)
• Equus (1978)
• Silver Aero (1980)
• VX Lightning (2003)

How Vauxhall and Other GM Cars are Related

General Motors started to combine the car lines of Vauxhall and Opel in the early 1970s. By the end of that decade, Vauxhall's entire range of cars was replaced. New models were based on Opel designs. At first, Vauxhall made big changes for the British market. But later, they just changed the badges and some features. This meant Vauxhall cars became almost identical to Opel cars. This also started a time when GM used shared parts and designs across its different brands worldwide.

The 1963 HA Viva was developed secretly. It was very similar to the Opel Kadett released a year before. The 1972 FE Victor was the first clear example of this strategy. It shared its base and some body parts with the Opel Rekord D. However, it still used Vauxhall-designed engines and had no interchangeable body panels. By this time, GM planned to share car platforms for Vauxhall, Opel, and Holden. There were four main sizes: supermini, sub-compact, extended sub-compact, and executive. The T-body was the first to be shown in 1973 as the Opel Kadett C. Vauxhall had its own idea for a smaller car with front-wheel drive. But due to budget reasons, this project was stopped. It was combined with the T-body project. The car that came out was the Vauxhall Chevette in 1975. It was basically the Opel Kadett C with a special "Droopsnoot" front design.

The larger U-body car was also supposed to have Vauxhall-specific bodywork. But GM management canceled its development just months before its release. The resulting Cavalier came out in 1975. It was a rebadged Opel Ascona B. It had similar modified front and rear styling as the Chevette. The top-of-the-range V-body cars came out last in 1978. They replaced the FE Victor. The first was the Carlton. It was essentially the Opel Rekord E, with a "droopsnoot" nose and slightly changed interior. The flagship V-body cars, the Viceroy and Royale, were rebadged versions of the Opel Commodore C and Senator/Monza. These were imported from Germany. The V-body was also used for the Australian market as the Holden Commodore.

So, by the end of the 1970s, most Vauxhalls were based on Opel designs. But they still used Vauxhall engines. For example, the Chevette and Cavalier used the 1256 unit from the Viva. These cars were also sold in left-hand drive in continental European markets. This included the Netherlands, Belgium, and Scandinavia. They competed with their Opel versions.

In 1979, the last Vauxhall car designed without Opel influence, the Viva, stopped production. After this, GM's plan was for future Vauxhall models to be rebadged Opels. They would be designed mainly in Rüsselsheim. The first Astra, launched in 1980, set the example. It had no styling or engineering differences from its Opel sister, the Kadett D. Until the early 1980s, GM dealers in the UK sold very similar Opel and Vauxhall models side-by-side. Opel was introduced in 1967. By 1980, the two brands were still competing with almost identical cars. This duplication policy was phased out when Opel and Vauxhall combined their British marketing in 1981. The Vauxhall and Opel dealer networks merged and were renamed "Vauxhall-Opel". By 1982, most of the Opel lineup was stopped in the UK. Vauxhall-badged equivalents were preferred. Opel was then positioned as a performance-luxury brand. The Opel Manta coupé remained. The Vauxhall Royale was replaced by its Opel equivalent (the Senator/Monza). However, this strategy was slowly abandoned. The Senator went back to being badged as a Vauxhall for the 1985 model year. The Opel Monza disappeared at the end of 1987. The Manta was stopped in 1988.

Similarly, GM stopped using the Vauxhall brand in Ireland. They used the German brand Opel instead. Other countries with right-hand drive like Malta and Cyprus soon followed. In New Zealand, the brand was stopped in favor of Holden after the Chevette ended. GM Europe then started to use the same model names for both brands in the early 1990s. For example, the Vauxhall Astra and Opel Kadett were both called Astra from 1991. The Vauxhall Nova (Opel Corsa A) became the Corsa for its next generation in 1993. The change was finished in 1995. The Vauxhall Cavalier Mk 3 (Opel Vectra A) was replaced by the Opel Vectra B, called Vauxhall Vectra. Except for the VX220, sold by Opel as the Speedster, all later Vauxhall models have had the same names as Opel models. However, the 2015 Viva brings back an older practice. Its Opel equivalent, the Karl, is named after Karl Opel. Despite this, the Adam, named after his father and the company's founder, is sold in Britain without a name change. This might be because it sounds less obviously German.

From 1994, Vauxhall models were different from Opels because of their unique grille. It had a "V" shape with the Vauxhall badge. This was also used by Holden in New Zealand on the Astra and Vectra. It was used by Chevrolet in Brazil on the Mk1 Chevrolet Astra and on the Indian Opel Astra. The "V" badging was a nod to the V-shaped bonnets used on all Vauxhall cars since the very first. However, the "V" grille was not used on the Vectra-replacing Insignia, shown in 2008. Nor on the 2009 Vauxhall Astra and 2010 Vauxhall Meriva. All these, plus the US Saturn brand until 2009, used the same grille bar. This bar had identical badge mounts, making it easy to swap brand badges. Opel-badged versions with right-hand drive still make their way into the UK. They come as grey imports from Ireland or Malta. Or they are sold new from car supermarkets that bought Irish specification vehicles in bulk.

One model unique to Vauxhall was the high-performance Monaro coupé. This car came from and was designed by Holden in Australia. This model was also made in left-hand drive for markets like the US (as the Pontiac GTO) and the Middle East (as the Chevrolet Lumina Coupe). But Opel did not offer it in mainland Europe. Imports of this car were limited to 15,000 to avoid extra safety testing. Other cars confirmed by Vauxhall, but not by Opel, were the Holden Commodore SS-V and the HSV GTS. Vauxhall confirmed importing the GTS just after it was announced that the new Opel GT roadster would not be imported into the UK. Most Holden/HSV cars imported after 2006 were badged as the Vauxhall VXR8 saloon.

The bodywork for the Holden Camira estate was used for the Vauxhall Cavalier estate in the UK. But not for the identical Opel Ascona in the rest of Europe. On the other hand, 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, was the basis for the first HB-series Holden Torana in Australia in 1967.

Many cars badged as Opels, even left-hand drive models, are made by Vauxhall for export. Vauxhall has also built some Holdens for export. This includes Vectra-As to New Zealand and Astra-Bs to both Australia and New Zealand.

Vauxhall	Opel
1963 HA Viva (platform only)	Kadett A
1966 HB Viva (platform only)	Kadett B
1969 Bedford CF	Blitz (Vauxhall-designed)
1970 HC Viva (platform only)	Opel Ascona A
1972 FE Victor (platform only)	Rekord D
1975 Chevette	Kadett C
1975 Cavalier Mk.I	Ascona B
1975 Cavalier Coupe	Manta B
1977 Cavalier Sports Hatch	Manta B
1978 Carlton Mk.I	Rekord E
1978 Viceroy	Commodore C
1978 Royale	Senator A
1978 Royale Coupe	Monza A1
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

• = Note: The saloon Astra Mark 2 was called Vauxhall Belmont.

Vauxhall Factories and Operations

Vauxhall's main office is in Luton, Bedfordshire. It has major factories in Luton and Ellesmere Port, UK. The Luton factory makes commercial vehicles. It is owned by a sister company called IBC Vehicles. The Ellesmere Port factory makes passenger cars.

The Luton plant currently has about 900 staff. It can produce around 100,000 vehicles each year. The factory site covers 4.17 million square feet (387,000 square metres). The plant currently produces the Vivaro light commercial van.

The Ellesmere Port plant currently has about 1,880 staff. It can produce around 187,000 vehicles. The factory site covers 13.02 million square feet (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 assembly plant in Dunstable, Bedfordshire. Vauxhall developed and opened it in 1942 as a "shadow factory" for the Ministry of Production. It became a production site for Bedford Vehicles in the 1950s.

Vauxhall's original car plant in Luton was next to the commercial vehicle plant. Car production stopped there in 2002. The plant was then torn down. After several plans, permission was given in January 2014 to redevelop the site as Napier Park.

Vauxhall Logo and Its Meaning

The griffin emblem, which Vauxhall still uses, comes from the coat of arms of Falkes de Breauté. He was a soldier who was given the Manor of Luton by King John in the 1200s. Through marriage, he also gained land near London, south of the Thames. The house he built, Fulk's Hall, later became known as Vauxhall. Vauxhall Iron Works adopted this emblem to show its connection to the local area. When Vauxhall Iron Works moved to Luton in 1905, the griffin emblem returned to its original home by chance.

The logo used to be square, but now it is round. This allows it to fit in the same space designed for the round Opel emblem. Since the 1920s, the griffin has been redesigned nine times. In 2008, a new version of the 2005 logo was released. Bill Parfitt, chairman of GM UK, said the new griffin honors Vauxhall's long history in the UK. He also said it shows Vauxhall's new design style, seen first in the Astra and continuing with the Insignia.

• 

  The Vauxhall Griffin from a 1920 Vauxhall D-type.

• 

  A Vauxhall grille plate from the 1940s showing the Griffin logo.

• 

  Vauxhall Motors' logo from the 1990s to 2008.

Sponsorships

Vauxhall Motors sponsored the Football Conference. This was the highest non-league football division in England. They sponsored it from 1986 to 1998. They took over from Gola and sponsored the league for twelve years. Then, Nationwide Building Society replaced them. In 2011, Vauxhall became the main sponsor for the national football teams of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

Vauxhall in Motorsports

Vauxhall has successfully competed in various types of motorsport.

During the 1970s, Vauxhall was strong in British rallying. The Magnum coupe was heavier and less powerful than the dominant Ford Escort. But drivers like Will Sparrow and Brian Culcheth still achieved strong results. From 1976, Vauxhall decided to increase its presence in the sport. They built a special version of the Vauxhall Chevette for racing, called the Chevette HS. This car was a much more serious competitor. With drivers like Pentti Airikkala, Tony Pond, Russell Brookes, and Jimmy McRae, the Chevette HS and its later 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. For the next few years, efforts focused on the Group B Opel Manta 400. However, the Vauxhall Astra and Vauxhall Nova were used in lower power classes in the mid-1980s. They became popular cars for amateur racers. This was because they were reliable, easy to tune, and had many available parts. After Group B was banned in 1986, the Group A Astra returned to the forefront. As a two-litre, front-wheel-drive car, it could not win against the four-wheel-drive cars. But it did get top ten finishes in several World Championship events. Louise Aitken-Walker won the ladies' World Championship in 1990 in an Astra. This was despite a serious accident in the Rally of Portugal that year.

During 1991–92, Vauxhall considered racing the four-wheel-drive version of the Vauxhall Calibra. They thought about using it in British and possibly world rallies. A test version competed in the 1993 Swedish Rally with Stig Blomqvist driving. However, the cost was too high. Also, the 'Formula 2' category was introduced into British rallying. The latest Astra was perfect for this category. It won the category in the 1993 and 1994 championships, driven by David Llewellin. Vauxhall raced different versions of the Astra in the British championship until the late 1990s.

Vauxhall first entered the British Touring Car Championship with the Vauxhall Cavalier in 1989. The main driver was John Cleland. He stayed with the team until he retired in 1999. The Cavalier was competitive and often the fastest front-wheel-drive car. Cleland was second in the championship in 1992 and fourth in the next two years. In 1995, he won the title. 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 rules changed. Vauxhall brought the Astra Coupe into the BTCC. The Astra dominated the BTCC between 2001 and 2004. Drivers like Jason Plato (2001), James Thompson (2002–2004), and Yvan Muller (2003) won titles. Vauxhall also won the Manufacturers Award and Teams Award every year.

In 2005, the Astra Coupe was replaced by the Astra Sport Hatch. However, it was not as competitive. This limited Vauxhall's success in 2005 and 2006.

In 2007, the rules changed again, and Vauxhall brought the Vectra back. The Vectra brought success back to Vauxhall. Fabrizio Giovanardi won the 2007 and 2008 BTCC championship. Fabrizio Giovanardi finished 3rd in the championship in 2009. Vauxhall then stopped its sponsorship at the end of 2009 due to the economic crisis.

In November 2016, it was announced that Vauxhall would return to the BTCC. They partnered with Power Maxed Racing. Later, it was announced that former BTCC driver Tom Chilton would lead the team. Senna Proctor was his teammate. The team got a podium finish at their first race at Brands Hatch. Their best finish was a 2nd place at Silverstone.

In 2018, the team returned as TAG Autosport with Power Maxed Racing. Senna Proctor teamed up with Josh Cook. Senna Proctor won his and the team's first race at Brands Hatch. He made an amazing drive from 28th place to win. Josh Cook followed a few weeks later at Donington. He got a pole position and won the first race. He also got another podium in Race 3. Cook won again at the next round at Thruxton. Throughout the year, the team achieved 10 more podiums. They stayed in the top 3 of the Teams Standings all season. More than half of their race finishes saw at least one driver in the Top 10.

For 2019, the team decided to race as Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing. They had two new drivers: Jason Plato, the most successful driver in British history, and former Independents Champion Rob Collard.

See also

In Spanish: Vauxhall Motors para niños

• Steinmetz Opel Tuning
• Irmscher
• List of car manufacturers of the United Kingdom
• VinFast

Note