Opel launched a new slogan stating ‘Wir leben Autos’. The motto will be used around the world – in German. Alain Visser, Vice President of Opel Marketing, Sales and After-Sales, explains the reasons behind the change.
Cars are our passion, and this excitement influences everything we do. I know that sounds pretty emotional, but that’s exactly how it’s meant, says Visser. “If you want to build great cars, you’ve got to put your heart and soul into it, along with all the energy that involves. This is exactly what we at Opel do and that energy is also expressed in our cars, from their dynamic chassis systems to their outstanding design.”
‘Wir leben Autos’ will be used around the world in German. But will people everywhere understand it? “I’m sure they will, but even so, it’s a gutsy move to stick with German instead of going with English,” says Visser. “I think just the choice of language itself already makes a clear statement: We are an international company with German roots. For the last 150 years, we at Opel have been a part of a long tradition of German engineering and inventiveness for which our country is famous; 110 years of that has been in the automotive branch. This expertise is a guarantee for our customers that we offer high quality innovations at an affordable price.”
Technological innovations are important for Opel and are becoming even more important every day. “I think that cars will continue to be more than just a mode of transport in the future. They’ll remain an integral part of society’s mobile lifestyle. And so innovation means making peoples’ everyday life easier. For instance, headlamps that adapt to light and driving conditions are more important to most drivers than having one hp more or less. Or people who often need to transport their bicycle know what a huge help our FlexFix system is. It’s innovations like these that give Opel an advantage. We understand our customers’ needs because we reflect on our own and bring this personal element to the table. And this is a really good foundation to build on to noticeably improve our customers’ mobile lifestyle.
“Design is another area we’re really focusing on. A car is an expression of your lifestyle. People want their car to fit their personality and match their attitude towards life. So a good car combines everything: exciting design, state-of-the-art technology and innovative, environmentally friendly ideas.”
These are the kind of cars Opel wants to build and that demands commitment. “That’s why we say ‘Wir Leben Autos’,” says Visser. “That is our passion, our dedication, our love of detail, our sense of responsibility, our goal and, yes, our confidence. That’s what makes us Opel.”
‘Wir Leben Autos’ – what does it mean?
The ‘Wir’ (We) stands for the excitement and affirmative, positive attitude of Opel colleagues and dealers – a great starting point for the development of intelligent, surprising and innovative products supplied to customers.
The word ‘leben’ (live) embodies the high level of energy at Opel. It is a vitality which anyone who has experienced an Opel can feel through the variety of practical functions, exciting innovations and fascinating, dynamic design.
Finally, the ‘Autos’ (cars) have become an essential part of our lives, says Visser. “We combine our personal experiences with that of our customers in order to make their daily mobility simpler and more comfortable.”