Cadillac Europe
Company type | Subsidiary |
---|---|
Industry | Automotive |
Founded | May 1, 1935 |
Headquarters | Glattpark, Switzerland |
Area served | Europe |
Products | Automobiles |
Brands | Cadillac |
Services |
|
Parent | General Motors |
Website | cadillaceurope.com |
Cadillac Europe (formerly General Motors Switzerland S.A.)[1][2] is the Swiss subsidiary of US-based company General Motors that imports and commercialises Cadillac vehicles for 25 countries across Europe. In the past, it was also active as a manufacturer, producing Buick, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, La Salle, Opel, and Vauxhall vehicles in its Bienne factory.[1] Currently, the only two models imported by Cadillac Europe are the Cadillac XT4 and the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.
History
General Motors was looking for a suitable location for an assembly plant in Switzerland in the 1930s.[3] Guido Müller, the then city president of Biel, offered a finished factory and tax exemption for five years.[3] On 2 May 1935, "General Motors Suisse" was founded in Biel/Bienne.[3] The company register derogates from 1 May 1935.[4] The first vehicle was produced on 5 February 1936.[3] Until the outbreak of World War II, about 2,000 vehicles were produced each year.[3]
After the end of the war, production continued and expanded.
The company was then limited to imports and distribution.[3] In 1994, it was renamed "Opel Suisse SA",[3] later "Opel Svizzera SA" and "Opel Schweiz AG".[6] On 17 November 2003, the old company name was accepted again.[7] Alternative or translated names were "General Motors Schweiz AG", "General Motors Svizzera SA" and "General Motors Switzerland Ltd."[7] On 13 April 2004, there was a merger agreement with Saab Automobile Schweiz AG, which was acquired.[8] Saab belonged to General Motors at the time. On 14 April 2004, the head office was relocated to Opfikon.[9] On 24 May 2012, there was another merger agreement, this time with General Motors Europe AG.[10]
On 6 March 2017, Opel was sold by General Motors to the
Brands
Marque | Since | To |
---|---|---|
Buick | 1936 | 1958 |
Cadillac | 1938 | 1940 |
Chevrolet | 1936 | 1938 |
LaSalle | 1936 | 1937 |
Oldsmobile | 1936 | 1958 |
Opel | 1936 | 1975 |
Pontiac | 1936 | 1959 |
Ranger | 1970 | 1975 |
Vauxhall | 1946 | 1971 |
Gallery
Some models produced by GM Suisse:
-
1936 Buick Eight Special
-
1951 Chevrolet Styleline
-
1951 Pontiac Chieftain
-
1959 Chevrolet Bel Air
-
1960 Vauxhall Victor
-
1968 Opel Kadett
References
- ^ a b They Built Buicks In Switzerland? by Ronan Glon on Motor1.com, 15 Aug 2017
- ^ General Motors Suisse SA on Bloomberg
- ^ Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz. 15 August 2016. (retrieved 26 October 2019)
- ^ Marcel Motzet: Montage Suisse Automobile. Katalog zur Sonderausstellung 75 Jahre General Motors Suisse SA. Swiss Car Register, Sektion Montage Suisse, 2009. PDF
- ^ a b c Marcel Motzet: Historie der General Motors Suisse in einem Clubmagazin Archived 2019-10-21 at the Wayback Machine (PDF; retrieved 26 October 2019)
- ^ Übersicht des Swiss Car Register Archived 2020-02-24 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved 26 October 2019)
- ^ a b Änderung im Handelsregister, Mitteilung 31 December 2003[permanent dead link] (PDF; retrieved 26 October 2019)
- ^ Änderung im Handelsregister, Mitteilung 26 April 2004[permanent dead link] (retrieved 26 October 2019)
- ^ Änderung im Handelsregister, Mitteilung 19 May 2004[permanent dead link] (retrieved 26 October 2019)
- ^ Änderung im Handelsregister, Mitteilung 20 June 2012[permanent dead link] (retrieved 26 October 2019)
- ^ Änderung im Handelsregister, Mitteilung 12 July 2017[permanent dead link] (retrieved 26 October 2019)
- ^ Änderung im Handelsregister, Mitteilung 6 March 2018 (retrieved 26 October 2019)
- ^ Änderung im Handelsregister, Mitteilung 8 March 2018[permanent dead link] (retrieved 26 October 2019)
External links
- Official website
- Chevrolet Europe (operated by Cadillac Europe)