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Peugeot boss wants to 'unleash Vauxhall potential' Vauxhall takeover: Peugeot boss says no plans to shut plants
(35 minutes later)
Peugeot chief executive Carlos Tavares wants to "unleash [the] potential" of Opel and Vauxhall after his company's takeover of the brands. Peugeot chief executive Carlos Tavares has said he is not considering shutting Opel and Vauxhall plants after his company's takeover of the brands.
"We are going to open the gates" to exporting outside Europe he said in an interview with the BBC. Instead he wants to "unleash [their] potential" by exporting the cars outside Europe, he said in an interview with the BBC.
Mr Tavares downplayed suggestions that plants would have to close after Peugeot buys General Motors Europe. The brands' previous owner, General Motors, did not market Opel or Vauxhall cars outside Europe.
Instead he said improved performance would make the company more competitive. Mr Tavares said merging with Peugeot would make Vauxhall more efficient.
PSA, Peugeot's parent company, has agreed to buy the European operations of General Motors, prompting concern over the future of its UK-based Vauxhall operations in Ellesmere Port and Luton.PSA, Peugeot's parent company, has agreed to buy the European operations of General Motors, prompting concern over the future of its UK-based Vauxhall operations in Ellesmere Port and Luton.
But Mr Tavares offered some reassurance, suggesting that both PSA and Vauxhall were operating at high levels of capacity, and that demand overseas would justify maintaining production. Simon Jack: Vauxhall's uncertain road ahead begins
"We are not talking about shutting down plants. Why? Because if you look at the situation, look at the PSA Group today, our capacity utilisation rate is 98%."
He said Vauxhall was operating at 82% capacity.
"For many, many, years Opel Vauxhall could not export cars outside of Europe, that was something that General Motors didn't want them to do. PSA is going to unleash this potential," he said.
Jack: Vauxhall's uncertain road ahead begins
Why is Vauxhall being sold to Peugeot's owner?Why is Vauxhall being sold to Peugeot's owner?
The fine print behind the GM dealThe fine print behind the GM deal
But Mr Tavares said both PSA and Vauxhall were operating at high levels of capacity, and that demand overseas would justify maintaining production.
"We are not talking about shutting down plants. Why? Because if you look at the situation, look at the PSA Group today, our capacity utilisation rate is 98%."
He said Vauxhall was operating at 82% capacity.
"For many, many, years Opel Vauxhall could not export cars outside of Europe, that was something that General Motors didn't want them to do. PSA is going to unleash this potential, we are going to open the gates" he said.
Performance not protectionPerformance not protection
He also indicated that his priority was not negotiating with governments for favourable tax treatment.He also indicated that his priority was not negotiating with governments for favourable tax treatment.
"What is striking in Europe... is that everybody is asking for protection." "What is striking in Europe... is that everybody is asking for protection," he said.
"The only honest answer for protection is performance, if you increase your level of performance, you become the best, if you become the best there is no risk," he added. "The only honest answer for protection is performance, if you increase your level of performance, you become the best, if you become the best there is no risk.
"We can become better by sharing the best practices, having the best benchmarks inside the company and if we are better, with the export opportunities we have, we can fully use our manufacturing footprint.""We can become better by sharing the best practices, having the best benchmarks inside the company and if we are better, with the export opportunities we have, we can fully use our manufacturing footprint."