Opel/Vauxhall and Renault Announce Production Location for Next-Generation Vivaro and Trafic Models

LUTON/RÜSSELSHEIM/BOULOGNE-BILLANCOURT – March 25, 2011: Opel/Vauxhall and Renault today announced the production locations for the next generation of the successful Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro and Renault Trafic models. Production is scheduled to start in 2013.

Production in Luton
Opel/Vauxhall confirms that the next generation Vivaro will be built at its plant in Luton, UK. Consequently, the Luton plant will continue to play an important role in the Opel/Vauxhall manufacturing network.

Production in Sandouville
Renault will produce in its plant in Sandouville the next generation of Renault Trafic model as well as the next generation of the H2 (high roof) version of Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro. As announced previously, the production of this new van in Sandouville plant is expected to reach 100,000 units/year once all versions have been launched.

A long term cooperation
Today’s announcement follows the joint announcement between Opel/Vauxhall and Renault in September 2010, when both companies agreed to continue their successful cooperation in the Light Commercial Vehicle segment.

This cooperation goes back to 1996 when the first generation of the Opel/Vauxhall Movano and Renault Master program was announced. Since then, the cooperation expanded to include Vivaro/Trafic. In 2010, this new second generation of the Renault Master & Opel/Vauxhall Movano Van program was successfully launched with an extended model range including rear wheel drive versions and a number of factory produced specially converted vehicles.

The current Vivaro and Trafic models were first produced in 2001, and by the end of 2010 Opel Vauxhall and Renault had built over 1.25 million Trafic and Vivaro. While the sister models are being jointly developed and produced in Opel/Vauxhall and Renault-Nissan plants, they are independently marketed and sold through the respective brand distribution channels.