Stellantis has canceled the new electric Opel Insignia, which was already ready under the name Manta, to hand it over to Peugeot as a replacement for the 508. Opel is left without a top-of-the-range model and will focus on low-cost cars, leaving the Grandland as its largest vehicle. Consumers lose an electric family alternative.
The Manta dies before birth: the platform is recycled 🚗
The Manta project, based on the STLA Medium platform, was in its final development phase with an 87 kWh battery and a range close to 500 km. However, Stellantis management decided to transfer the architecture and design to Peugeot for its future electric 508. Opel, which had already invested in its fine-tuning, is left without the model that was supposed to compete with the Volkswagen ID.7 or the Tesla Model 3. The decision responds to a brand segmentation strategy: Peugeot occupies the upper tier and Opel is limited to a more utilitarian role. The Grandland, a compact SUV, becomes the largest product in the range.
Opel goes low cost: goodbye to luxury, hello to discounts 😅
So, if you were expecting an electric Insignia with a sporty flair and a flying fish name, forget it. Now Opel offers you a Grandland and a lot of resignation. The German brand, which once built sedans for traveling, has become the group's low-cost option. At least, the next Opel Corsa will have a steering wheel, so that's something. Meanwhile, Stellantis executives celebrate their great strategic move from an office with a view of a parking lot full of electric 508s.