As many car manufacturers reconsider their electric vehicle (EV) plans, Opel is sticking to its belief that electric cars are the future.
According to Opel’s CEO, Florian Huettl, the brand will eventually offer only electric cars, seeing them as the best solution for the auto industry.
In a recent interview with Automotive News, Huettl confirmed that unlike some competitors, Opel is not slowing down its electric vehicle push. He remains confident in the transition to a fully electric lineup, even though some car brands are changing course due to market challenges and shifting public opinion.
“We believe that electric cars, for reasons we all know, are simply better: the acceleration, the agility, the absence of noise, and the ability to drive without the use of fossil fuel,” Huettl said.
The Road to Zero Emissions
Huettl is also convinced that electric cars are essential to achieving zero carbon emissions, especially for large automakers like Opel.
The company’s parent group, Stellantis, has set a goal to be carbon neutral by 2038, and Huettl sees EVs as the only way to reach that target.
Even though Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares has shown some flexibility in his stance on electric vehicles, saying the group might adjust its approach if needed, Huettl is determined to keep Opel on track with its electric goals.
Moving Beyond Hybrids
While Opel still offers hybrid models, Huettl sees them as temporary.
He explained that after the Frontera and Grandland models, every new Opel vehicle will be fully electric.
Opel sold 670,000 cars worldwide in 2023, and 90,000 of those were electric—a 15% increase from the previous year. However, the company still has a way to go before reaching its goal of 100% electric sales by 2028.
As Opel moves full speed ahead with electric cars, other automakers are taking a step back. Ford recently announced it may not exclusively sell electric cars in Europe by 2030, and Mercedes and Volkswagen have voiced similar concerns.
