This battery-electric compact hatchback marked the return of the nameplate to a fully electric role in Europe after the earlier range-extended car that had worn a similar badge. It was revealed in 2016 and reached customers as a 2017 model year entry, giving the brand a long-range EV offering well before the mainstream rush into affordable electric cars. Built around the same basic electric architecture used by its U.S.-market counterpart, it was positioned as a practical five-seat compact with everyday usability rather than as a niche compliance vehicle.
In period, the car stood out for its unusually strong electric range, which became a core part of its identity and a major reason it drew attention in markets such as Norway and the Netherlands. Opel promoted it as a genuine breakthrough for drivers who wanted one electric car to cover commuting, family use, and longer trips without frequent charging stops. The model also earned notable industry recognition, including awards for efficiency and overall appeal in the small-car class.
Its career was relatively short. By 2019, Opel was already steering attention toward the new Corsa-e, and the battery-electric hatchback was being described as a limited remaining stock item in showrooms. That makes it an important transitional model in Opel’s modern electric history: a focused, early mainstream attempt at long-range battery-electric mobility that helped prepare the ground for later electric models, even though it did not continue for many years.