Kuch news aisi hoti hai jo enthusiasts ke liye kaafi painful hoti hai, or ye unhi mein se ek hai. decades se rumours chal rahe the, Manta GSe ElektroMOD jaise spectacular prototypes aaye, or 2025 launch ke promises bhi mile, but ab industrial reality saamne aa hi gayi hai. Opel ke CEO Florian Huettl ne clear bol diya hai: electric version of the Opel Manta 2030 se pehle market mein nahi aane wali. Tab tak, German carmaker apne sabse powerful models ke liye GSe designation use karta rahega.
European automotive industry abhi ek phase se guzar rahi ha jahan sab kuch repeatedly rethink ho raha hai. Stellantis ne decide kiya hai ki ab impulsive experiments ka time nahi hai, rather aise models pe focus karna hai jo proper volume laayein or profit bana ke "bills pay" karein. Company ki new management past kuch months se kaafi tough decisions le rahi hai, jinka short or medium term mein new models ke launch par direct impact hoga.
A shift in priorities: volume first
Image Courtesy: Stellantis
Electric Manta ka delay koi single case nahi hai. Ye actually Opel ke "medium term priorities ko reassessment karne" ka part hai. Basically, Opel ne decide kiya hai ki abhi apni complete resource or energy un segments pe lagayenge jahan demand sabse zyada hai.
Isliye development ab un models ke electric versions pe focus kar rahi hai jo already sales drive kar rahe hai. Jo "niche" ya sirf brand image ke liye wale products hai, unhe thoda baad ke liye save kar rakha hai.
Huettl khud admit kar chuke hai ki 2030 ke CO₂ targets abhi ke according barely achievable lagte hai. That's the reason brand ko every new launch mein kaafi zyada precise or careful rehna hoga. Europe ne thoda environmental rules relax zaroor kiye hai, but manufacturers ko phir bhi kaafi strict emissions targets meet karne hai, jo practically sirf high level electrification se hi possible hai.
What happened to the initial project?
Image Courtesy: Motor.es
2021 mein brand ne promise kiya tha ki decade ke between tak ek new Manta aayegi. But jo exciting SUV Coupe concept tha, jo Stellantis ke models ka premium sibling banne wala tha, wo abhi time mein hi freeze ho gaya lagta hai. Manta ko STLA Medium platform ke saath launch hona tha, but brand pehle is technology ko zyada conventional models mein refine karna chahta hai, uske baad hi itne iconic name ke saath risk lena chahega.
Stellantis ke top bosses thoda strict ho gaye hai, ab wo sirf wahi projects approve kar rahe hai jinka first few years mein clear return on investment ho. Huettl ne kaha, "Manta ek aisa model hai jisme kaafi zyada emotional appeal hai. But humne apni medium term priorities rework ki hai. Abhi hum pehle Corsa ko renew karne or apne SUV segment par focus kar rahe hai.
Manta project abhi exist karta hai, design prototypes bhi ready hai, but 2030 se pehle iska koi bhi version market mein aane wala nahi hai.
The promise still stands (but with some naunces)
Image Courtesy: Motor.es
In spite of the Manta setback, Opel abhi bhi Europe mein 2028 tak 100% electric only brand banne ke plan pe committed hai. Bas problem ye hai ki next 3 years mein dealerships mein jo cars present hongi, wo more practical honge or utne nostalgic nahi, jitna Russelsheim ke classic models ke fans expect kar rahe honge.
Electric Opel Manta dead nahi hui hai, bas forced hibernation mein chali gayi hai. Abhi at least 4 years or wait karna hoga ye dekhne ke liye ki kya electric power iske legendary name ko wapas alive kar paati hai ya nahi.
At present humein history books or designers ke concept renders dekh ke hi happy rehna hoga, because road pe iska actual comeback next decade se pehle nahi hone wala.