Currently reading: Next-gen Corsa will be all-electric, says Vauxhall boss

MD Stephan Norman says next crop of Vauxhall superminis will be fully electric, including the Corsa line

The next sixth-generation Vauxhall Corsa is likely to be electric-only, according to the brand’s boss Stephen Norman, who also revealed he had no fears the impending PSA Group merger with FCA would have an adverse impact on Vauxhall.

The fifth-generation Corsa has just been launched, and itself is available with an 203-mile electric option alongside petrol and diesel alternatives.

Norman was emphatic when asked if the Corsa name could be used for an SUV instead of a hatchback in the future. “Absolutely not,” he told Autocar.

“With electrification, B-class and possibly even A-class segment cars will become more relevant.

“The next generation superminis, including the Corsa, will be all-electric. I truly believe that.”

But with small cars traditionally popular in big cities, charging infrastructure has regularly been cited as one of the major problems facing mainstream uptake in EVs - particularly how people living in blocks of flats can feasibly charge their electric car when on-street parking is the only option.

But Norman believes once governments decide to fully embrace infrastructure and put funding and schemes in place then progress will greatly accelerate.

“There will be a tipping point,” Norman said when asked about charging infrastructure.

Corsa story 2

“When a decision is made it will happen unbelievably quickly. In 2025, no manufacturer will be making petrol or diesel engines.”

The fifth-generation Corsa faced a rushed development process, going from concept to the public road in just two-and-a-half years. This was due to the takeover of Vauxhall by the PSA Group.

Part of the rush was because if Vauxhall had not released a new Corsa and left the fourth-generation model on sale, the brand would have had to eventually pay royalties to General Motors - the owner of the brand when the previous Corsa was created. It is thought GM had no plans for a fifth-generation Corsa of its own. With the ready-made CMP platform from the PSA Group which the new Peugeot 208 and DS 3 Crossback were built on, Vauxhall decided to press ahead with its plans for the Corsa using the same platform.

Advertisement

Read our review

Car review

The Corsa E raised its game to become a competitive and classy supermini, but is it a better used buy than a Fiesta?

Back to top

Norman ruled out bringing out an off-road styled variant of the Corsa in the same vein as Ford has done with the Fiesta Active. The new Mokka X - in Norman’s words the “first sexy Vauxhall for 50 years” - will instead provide the alternative for buyers after a jacked-up, style-focused small SUV.

Vauxhall is in the midst of negotiations about merger between its parent company, the PSA Group, and FCA.

Norman confirmed talks were ongoing and a Memorandum of Understand is set to be signed by the companies in December. Norman believes Vauxhall won’t be troubled by it.

“It [the merger] won’t have an impact on Vauxhall. It might do in Italy, but elsewhere it shouldn’t have an impact.”

Norman also added that the merger could be a lengthy process, with PSA Group boss Carlos Tavares telling colleagues it could take another 12 months after signing the Memorandum of Understand in December for things to be made clear.

READ MORE

Vauxhall boss: firm could benefit from a hard Brexit

Vauxhall to bring back VXR sub-brand as all-electric range

New Vauxhall Corsa and Corsa-e make joint public debut

Join the debate

Comments
10
Add a comment…
Old But not yet Dead 21 November 2019

Infrastructure

I get a bit fed up with car bosses moaning about the lack of charging infrastructure. What exactly has Vauxhall/PSA  done to help. As far as I know only Tesla has invested anything substantial , with VW doing a deal with Tesco as a small gesture.

WallMeerkat 21 November 2019

Mokka.... 'sexy'.... really????

All credibility was lost with this utterance:

Quote:

The new Mokka X - in Norman’s words the “first sexy Vauxhall for 50 years”

The era which has had

  • Firenza
  • VX220
  • Calibra
  • Tigra
  • Astra Bertone Coupe
  • Lotus Carlton
  • Monaro
  • VXR8
  • Not to mention various shades of GTE, GSi and VXR hot hatchery, and cabriolets

And he picks out the Mokka? The kind of thing that is offloaded as hire car fodder to weary travellers, with its marmite JD-sport-training-shoe looks, gutless engine, poor ride, stodgy handling, 90s radio, inaccurate gearchange indicator, poor visibility, overly cautious parking sensors and ridiculously small luggage space.

Straff 21 November 2019

And he picks out the Mokka?

And he picks out the Mokka? The kind of thing that is offloaded as hire car fodder to weary travellers, with its marmite JD-sport-training-shoe looks, gutless engine, poor ride, stodgy handling, 90s radio, inaccurate gearchange indicator, poor visibility, overly cautious parking sensors and ridiculously small luggage space.

[/quote]

I think he's talking about the new one that's due out soon.

Rick Maverick 21 November 2019

Stagecoach Conundrum

"Oh no, I wil never ever drive that noisy, fumes puking .... thing!", said Aldwyn to Abraham, on a misty day in 1889 .... . By 2030, new is all electric in the EU. BTW, Stephen Norman is not a 'mogul'. He's a hand, directed in Paris and Russelheim.

Ubberfrancis44 21 November 2019

Rick Maverick wrote:

Rick Maverick wrote:

"Oh no, I wil never ever drive that noisy, fumes puking .... thing!", said Aldwyn to Abraham, on a misty day in 1889 .... . By 2030, new is all electric in the EU. BTW, Stephen Norman is not a 'mogul'. He's a hand, directed in Paris and Russelheim.

Yes, ofcourse he said, cause you were there to listen smh.