Royaume-Uni
Vauxhall
Vauxhall is one of the oldest car brands still in operation. The company traces its origins to Alex Wilson and Company, founded in 1857 in Vauxhall, a district of London, by Scottish marine engineer Alexander Wilson. Initially specializing in pumps and marine engines, the company built its first car in 1903, a small single-cylinder, five-horsepower model steered by a tiller. In 1905, production was moved to Luton, in Bedfordshire, a town that would long remain the brand's historic home. The name "Vauxhall Motors" was adopted in 1907. In 1925, General Motors acquired Vauxhall, which thus became the British subsidiary of the American giant. Under GM, Vauxhall positioned itself as a maker of affordable, reliable family cars for the UK market. Beginning in the 1980s, Vauxhall models increasingly shared their platforms with those of Opel, GM's German sister brand: Vauxhall essentially became the right-hand-drive version of the Opel vehicles intended for the rest of Europe. More than 95% of components are shared between the two brands. In 2017, after more than 90 years under General Motors, Opel/Vauxhall was sold to France's PSA Group. In January 2021, the merger of PSA and Fiat Chrysler (FCA) gave rise to Stellantis, of which Vauxhall is now a brand. Today, Vauxhall is an exclusively British automaker: its vehicles are not sold in North America, a market that was never part of its sales territory. The brand maintains a strong presence in the United Kingdom, where it has a vast dealer network and where some of its models, such as the Corsa, are regularly among the best-selling cars. Vauxhall has committed to becoming an all-electric brand by 2028, in line with Stellantis's electrification strategy.
ActiveÉlectrique / hybridePopulairesEuropéennes
History
History of Vauxhall
Vauxhall is one of the oldest car brands still in operation. The company traces its origins to Alex Wilson and Company, founded in 1857 in Vauxhall, a district of London, by Scottish marine engineer Alexander Wilson. Initially specializing in pumps and marine engines, the company built its first car in 1903, a small single-cylinder, five-horsepower model steered by a tiller. In 1905, production was moved to Luton, in Bedfordshire, a town that would long remain the brand's historic home. The name "Vauxhall Motors" was adopted in 1907. In 1925, General Motors acquired Vauxhall, which thus became the British subsidiary of the American giant. Under GM, Vauxhall positioned itself as a maker of affordable, reliable family cars for the UK market. Beginning in the 1980s, Vauxhall models increasingly shared their platforms with those of Opel, GM's German sister brand: Vauxhall essentially became the right-hand-drive version of the Opel vehicles intended for the rest of Europe. More than 95% of components are shared between the two brands. In 2017, after more than 90 years under General Motors, Opel/Vauxhall was sold to France's PSA Group. In January 2021, the merger of PSA and Fiat Chrysler (FCA) gave rise to Stellantis, of which Vauxhall is now a brand. Today, Vauxhall is an exclusively British automaker: its vehicles are not sold in North America, a market that was never part of its sales territory. The brand maintains a strong presence in the United Kingdom, where it has a vast dealer network and where some of its models, such as the Corsa, are regularly among the best-selling cars. Vauxhall has committed to becoming an all-electric brand by 2028, in line with Stellantis's electrification strategy.
Public founding or origin of Vauxhall.
Astra: launch or first listed period.
Cavalier: launch or first listed period.
Corsa: launch or first listed period.
Mokka: launch or first listed period.
Technologies
Technologies, innovations and platforms
Vauxhall shares most of its technologies with Opel and the wider Stellantis group. Recent models are built on shared multi-energy platforms, notably the CMP (Common Modular Platform) and its e-CMP derivative for electric versions. The lineup combines three-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engines (often the 1.2 L PureTech), 48 V hybrid versions, and fully electric variants. Since late 2024, Vauxhall has offered an electric version of every model in its passenger and commercial lineup. The Corsa Electric, Astra Electric, and Mokka Electric typically use a 50 to 54 kWh battery and a motor of up to 156 hp. The GSE (Grand Sport Electric) sub-brand tops the range with performance versions. On the safety side, the vehicles feature the usual driver-assistance systems: autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping, adaptive cruise control, and traffic-sign recognition.
Brand image
Identity, reputation, strengths and weaknesses
Positioning
A British mainstream brand within Stellantis and sister marque to Opel, offering affordable and increasingly electrified cars, and not distributed in North America.
Reputation
Vauxhall's reputation is that of an accessible brand offering a good price-to-equipment ratio, though its reliability is rated as average. British indices place the brand in the lower half of automaker rankings, with results that vary from model to model: the Corsa and Astra earn decent scores, with the Astra often praised for its build quality. Resale value remains modest, which makes them affordable used vehicles but reflects faster depreciation than premium brands. Road tests highlight balanced handling, good comfort, and modernized interiors on recent generations, while noting that some trim finishes and electronic reliability can be disappointing.
Strengths
Vauxhall offers affordable, well-equipped, and easy-to-live-with vehicles, backed by a vast dealer network in the United Kingdom. The brand benefits from the shared engineering of the Stellantis group, from a lineup that is now largely electrified, and from parts shared with Opel, which makes servicing easier. Flagship models like the Corsa are among the best-selling cars, ensuring availability and controlled costs.
Points to watch
Vauxhall's reliability is rated as average in British rankings, with a sometimes high frequency of breakdowns, particularly involving electronics. Resale value is low, reflecting rapid depreciation. Some trim finishes still leave room for improvement. Above all, the brand is absent from North America: no distribution, no network, and no official parts in Quebec, which complicates the use and upkeep of an imported vehicle.
Models
Vauxhall models
Current or active models by market
Notable past models
Production and compatibility
Plants, tires and wheels
Production
Vauxhall's historic home is in Luton, England, where the brand long assembled its cars and today produces commercial vehicles. The Ellesmere Port plant, in Cheshire, was transformed by Stellantis after an investment of around 100 million pounds to become the United Kingdom's first 100% electric plant and the group's first facility entirely dedicated to electric vehicles. There it assembles electric vans (the Combo Electric and its Peugeot, Citroën, and Fiat equivalents) as well as leisure-activity-vehicle derivatives. Vauxhall has no industrial or commercial presence in North America: the brand is intended exclusively for the British market.
Tires and wheels
Because Vauxhalls share their platforms with Opel, their tire fitments and bolt patterns correspond to European standards. City cars like the Corsa frequently use a 4x100 bolt pattern (or even 5x110 on certain versions) with wheels from 15 to 18 inches. The Astra generally adopts a five-bolt pattern of the 5x108 type, in wheels from 16 to 18 inches. The taller Mokka often uses 5x105 or 4x108. Always verify the exact bolt pattern, offset (ET), and center bore according to the model and year. In Quebec, certified winter tires are mandatory: plan for a second mounted set, ideally on smaller-diameter steel wheels.