“Our ultimate goal is electrification”

Opel this year celebrates the 90th anniversary of compact car production and 35 years since the Astra was first launched, and the German carmaker kicked off 2026 with the world premiere of its new Astra and Astra Sports Tourer at the Brussels Motor Show.

“For me, it’s very clear. The car has a fantastic design,” Opel’s vice president marketing Rebecca Reinermann told ACL Autotouring during an interview in Brussels, talking about the new Astra. “When we did the facelift, we were very careful to retain the key design cues that were so successful,” she said. “We only slightly adapted the exterior design, and this is mostly focused on the front. We have a new front vizor that has taken many design cues from our latest concept car.” The Opel Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo provided inspiration for the narrower brand face, the crease of the bonnet, and the illuminated Opel Compass, for instance. What’s more, the new Astra uses no chrome and relies on its new light signature to differentiate the front of the car.

The interior now has a roomier and more comfortable feel, with ergonomic Intelli-seats. As reflected by the removal of chrome elements from the exterior of the car, sustainability is a key theme seen in the interior of the new Astra, with the seats made of recycled materials that can, in turn, easily be recycled. The specially designed seats also feature narrow recesses – similar to those found in bicycle saddles – that run along the centre and alleviate pressure on the tailbone.

“But what I love personally the most is the LED lights,” said Reinermann. Light is a central element of the new Astra. Intelli-Lux HD lights in the headlamps – composed of over 50,000 elements – better illuminate the road and traffic signs for drivers, while the Opel Blitz and Opel Compass signature on the front face of the car are now permanently illuminated. This innovative lighting design is particularly evident when driving at night, said Reinermann. “You will never feel insecure, because the car has a lighting system that is so intelligent, that shows you what is there without annoying pedestrians or oncoming cars.”

Multi-energy approach for continued flexibility

The electric version of the new Astra offers a range of up to 454 km, but the car is also available with different powertrains, representing the manufacturer’s multi-energy approach. The aim is to give customers the freedom to choose their preferred powertrain, whether it’s diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or electric. The European Commission in December backed down from a planned 2035 ban of new vehicles with internal combustion engines, allowing automakers to continue to produce these cars and giving manufacturers more flexibility. That being said, the Commission has underlined its support for the sector’s shift towards electrification and clean mobility.

“I think this multi-energy strategy that Opel is taking is the best choice,” said Reinermann, referring to the company’s electrification strategy. Customers can continue to choose the powertrain that suits them the best. But “we’re never leaving out of sight that our ultimate goal is electrification,” she added. “We need to electrify in the future. We see this as our responsibility.”

The company has seen the share of electrified vehicles steadily increase, Reinermann noted. “In 2025, the mix of our battery-electric versions in registrations was 14%. That is up versus the year before, when it was 11%. And it is growing steadily: in Q4, it was 17%; in December, it was 19%, and the order intake on some cars – like the Frontera – is higher than 30%.”

In Luxembourg specifically, the share of electric cars among new car registrations has risen dramatically over the past few years: in 2019, electric cars made up only 1.8% of new car registrations; in 2025, they accounted for 26.9% of new car registrations. Plug-in hybrids accounted for an additional 7.9% of new car registrations last year.

Made in Germany

The new Astra is manufactured in Opel’s plant in Rüsselsheim, just outside Frankfurt. In an era of geopolitical tensions, tariff confusion, and the desire for strategic autonomy, this is an interesting selling point.

“We are a German brand, and we will continue to produce in Germany,” said Reinermann. “It is true that it is not cheap to produce in Germany; we are a so-called high-cost country, but that doesn’t stop us. We are seeing how we can produce more efficiently, how to drive down costs, also in Germany.” Some vehicles are produced elsewhere in Europe, but “our bigger cars – Astra and Grandland – are being produced [in Rüsselsheim], and it is a continued focus.”

Looking ahead: a fresh lineup

Beyond electrification, Opel’s vision for the future includes fresh models and sporty driving. “We are growing,” said Reinermann. “We introduced, last year, three new SUVs: the Grandland, the Frontera, and the Mokka had a facelift. We have a young Corsa; we have a young van lineup. All the vans – Combo, Vivaro, Movano – are very fresh. And now we have the new Astra, so we have a very fresh lineup as we start the year. On top of that, we bring emotional, sporty driving with our sports line, the GSE, which we’ve introduced on the Mokka,” she said. “The future will bring much, much more, and we’re set up for a successful year of growth in 2026.”