The front runner for this plant had been the Ellesmere Port plant in the United Kingdom, given the strong backing of the state government, and their willingness to subsidize the project to protect jobs.

On Tuesday, however, the Magna consortium reportedly decided it will not produce the Volt’s cousin at this time, and that the reason for this decision is that they feel demand will not exceed the amount of investment needed at this time.

In a report first brought forth by British media, it was said that Magna did not shut the door on ever producing the Ampera in UK, but felt it would not likely again consider that as a option until 2015 or 2016 in the project’s 2nd generation; although a mystery Vauxhall ’source’ later said that demand, “rather than the launch of the second-gen model, will drive the decision on timing.”

As of now the plan is to export the Ampera/Chevrolet Volt from the DHAM facility in Michigan indefinitely. Naturally, this may cause a strain on capacity and availability of the Volt going forward both domestically and internationally if demand has been underestimated.

Vauxhall’s unofficial-official stance from “sources” on this leak (according to autocar) was:

“There has categorically been no decision on where European production of the Ampera will take place, but in order to justify production at any European plant there will need to be sufficient demand…Obviously we would like to see it built at Ellesmere Port as the Ampera is underpinned by the new Astra. It would make sense”

According to our own GM “sources” here at GM-Volt, Ampera production volumes will be “minimal” anyway. One has to wonder if this development could cast doubt on whether the Ampera reskin of the Volt will indeed happen at all.

One unintended advantage to GM because of this development, is that the recent major devaluing of the US dollar against most major currencies has made exporting cars a much more profitable business. Provided that trend continues, any US made-European sold Voltec vehicle, should be profitable.

There are apparently some snags in the negotiations.  It is well known that Magna intends to become a leader in the electrification of the automobile.  Ownership in Opel could potentially give them access to Voltec intellectual property.  Sources indicate that “Magna is asking for access to future technology such as fuel cells, hybrids and future GM models that go beyond what the company is offering in the deal.”  As such GM is now in new negotiations with buyout firm RHJ International SA and Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co.

Reports out of Europe cite GM sources as saying this uncertainty has led to a plan to introduce the right-handed Chevy Volt at the same time as the Opel Ampera in Europe in 2012, effectively putting them in competition with one another.

However, the reports suggests this competition may only be brief, as GM’s future Voltec plans are made clearer.  GM sources told Autocar that in the future “there won’t be a Volt or Ampera mark two, the powertrain will effectively become mainstream.”  As an example this source said the sixth generation Opel Astra could get the Voltec powertrain  “in 5 or 6 years.”

If this were true one could envision a similar paradigm developing in North America, where new future GM compact cars could come as standard gas combustion as well as Voltec versions.

Source (Autocar) and (Bloomberg)

GM Europe has itself been rescued through a German government brokered deal selling portions of the company to Canadian auto parts maker Magna and Russian lender Sberbank.  Magna will own 20%, Sberbank 35%, GM 35%, and Opel auto workers 10%.

Magna CEO Frank Stronach has strongly voiced his plans to move his company into electrification of the automobile, and indeed the company is already known to be partnering with Ford to bring their EV Focus to market in 2012.

“About two and a half years ago we made a commitment to be in the electric car business in a very serious way,” said Stronach. “First of all we’d like to supply all car companies with electrical systems but we also have the intention to build electric cars.”

And in time says Stronach “I am very confident that Magna will be amongst the leaders in selling and building electric cars.”

Where it gets interesting and potentially threatening to the Volt’s competitiveness is that the fact that the Opel Ampera is the sister car to the Chevy Volt and therefore contains the same proprietary Voltec drivetrain. Production of the Ampera remains on track for a European launch in 2012.

A consideration for speculation is whether Magna’s ownership position could give them access to proprietary Voltec intellectual property and competitive information which the company could then use in either building its own electric cars or those of other automakers like Ford.

“Certainly it would be too early to make any judgments about that, but I don’t think it would make an impact,” said Jon Lauckner, GM’s VP of product development. “Magna is acting as a supplier to Ford, so we are going to have to wait and see, quite frankly we haven’t had any discussion on it.”

Emails to representatives at Magna have gone unanswered.

Magna expects to close the deal by September, and Opel Chairman Carl Peter-Forster told Reuters they write “a lot of details of Canadian auto parts group Magna International’s deal to buy the company still needed to be clarified.”

GM has been gradually teasing images of the car. Now we can see it all including the first look at the car’s interior.

The interior design is the same as the Volt but these photos let us see how the center console will appear in black as opposed to the white color GM has shown us in the Volt. This black coloration is expected as an option in the production Volt too.

I asked GM spokesperson Rob Peterson whether any of this styling could make its way to the Volt. He said “No, the production Volt is the production Volt, and the production Ampera is the production Ampera.”

PHOTO GALLERY BELOW:

VIDEO:

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tx54B6ZQWI]

GM will be unveiling the European sister car to the Chevy Volt on March 5th at the Geneva Auto Show. Called the Opel Ampera, the car will have district Opel styling and share the same extend-range electric (or Voltec) drivetrain as the Volt. Reports indicate GM may build the Opel initially in Detroit.

The car will travel 40 miles on pure electricity with a full charge and have a gasoline-powered electric generator allowing several hundred additional miles of driving if needed.

Today GM released this brand new photo of a rather gorgeous car.

Click the image below to see wallpaper sized image:

And here is a video of GM’s Volt vehicle line executive Frank Weber discussing it:

The Germany-based division of GM has developed a restructuring plan that they plan to present to the German government and four other European countries on Monday . The division needs euro3.3 billion ($4.2 billion) in government aid or may not be able to operate by the end of March.

Opel officials have indicated that Opel will loosen ties from parent GM and become a “legally demarcated, at least partly independent business unit,” said GM Europe President Carl Peter-Forster, “Opel needs to remain part of GM but will be considerably more independent than at present.”

The plan to be submitted has “the goal of creating an independent European Opel organization that is open for investment from third parties” and a “walling-off concept,” says Opel Chief Executive Hans Demant.

The concept is that Opel would operate independently, and its European aid dollars would not be allowed to flow back to GM. GM would sell a 50% stake in the company, which its owned for 80 years.  Opel would still have a close relationship with GM for the sake of sharing technology and sourcing parts.

Potential investors would include employees, dealers, and others.

There are 10 European plants in danger of being shut down. One likely to be spared is the advanced Ellsmere plant in England where the Opel Ampera extended range electric car is expected to be built. This car is set to be unveiled at the Geneva auto show in Tuesday.

A decision on the plan by the German government is expected “from Monday” on.

Late word indicates that Germany is “ready” to go ahead with a 5 billion euro bailout of Opel and may even take up to a 20% stake in the company. Sources also note that the government doesn’t believe Opel’s own rescue plan is viable.

Source (Forbes) and (GM)

The Opel Ampera is set to debut at the Geneva Auto Show on March 3rd. It is the European sister car to the Chevy Volt using the identical platform and extended-range electric car drivetrain. We’ve seen a teaser photo, and then some sketches from the European patent office.

Today the car has been snapped in full color by a spy photographer.

Yes it looks like the Volt, but at least we can see it in true white. The front and rear ends do differ though but the basic shape was retained.

Source (WorldCarFans)

The vehicle is known to use the identical compact Delta platform and Voltec extended range electric car drivetrain as the Volt too.

Expected to arrive in Europe in 2011,  GM-Volt.com also found out that the car would continue to use the same gas generator configuration the Chevy Volt did, without a diesel genset that some speculated.

Apparently the European Union trademark office required some sketches of the upcoming car and thus its cover was broken.

Lo and behold, its a Volt with Opel branding.

Of course does it really matter?  After all its really about getting the country and the world off of oil.

Source (Autoblog)

Gallery:

I was able to gain some more information about the car and what it represents from GM sources.

GM wants it to be clear that although the Opel Ampera will indeed arrive first in Europe as a production vehicle, that they also intend to bring the Chevy Volt there as well. This will then give European customers two GM extended-range electric car options for sale.

I was also told that the Ampera will use the same Voltec platform underpinning the Chevy Volt and that it will have the same 1.4 L generator burning gasoline/E85. Specifically, it will not have a diesel generator despite that fact that such a possibility had previously been demonstrated in the Opel Flextreme concept.

Furthermore, Volt vehicle line director Frank Weber wrote a post about the Ampera on GMs Fastlane blog. He noted the Ampera “will be true to its roots by offering the distinctive styling, dynamic efficiency, versatility and affordability European customers have come to expect from Opel.”

He also outlined the similarities of the Volt and the Ampera as follows:

-The Opel Ampera and Chevrolet Volt are production programs designed to meet the needs of thousands of customers (not a modified production vehicle for fleet or demo drives.)

-The Opel Ampera and Chevrolet Volt will meet all safety standards for North America, Europe and Asia.

-The Opel Ampera and Chevrolet Volt will give most drivers a petroleum-free daily driving experience without range-anxiety associated with battery electric vehicles

-The Opel Ampera and Chevrolet Volt will offer a fun and highly refined driving experience

Source (FastLane)

The automaker has just announced that it will reveal what appears to be the European version of the Chevy Volt at the Geneva Auto Show on March 3rd.

They have given the five-door four-seater car its own name, the Opel Ampera.  As well a teaser photo has been released. There are no technical specs at this point, however the photo shows the body is unmistakably that of the Chevy Volt although with signature Opel branding features. It is unknown whether this vehicle will use a diesel or gasoline range extender, but the first 60 km of driving will indeed be on pure electricity.

Per said Alain Visser, GM Europe Chief Marketing Officer, “With the Ampera, Opel will be the first European automobile manufacturer to provide customers several hundred kilometers of non-stop electric driving,”

It was also noted that “additional information on the Opel Ampera will be released March 3 at the Geneva Motor Show.”

UPDATE: GM Voltec spokesperson David Darovitz has confirmed to GM-Volt.com that the car is indeed the European version of the Chevy Volt.

The vehicle will also be produced as the Vauxhall Ampera.

Source (GM)