Vauxhall cars in Britain will be rebranded under the Opel name in an effort to appeal to the Russian car market, according to the former managing director of Rover.

Professor Kevin Morley, who is now director of business studies at the University of Warwick, said the involvement of Russian companies in the deal to save Opel and Vauxhall would lead to thousands of cars being imported into Russia under the Opel brand.

“No one in Russia knows what a Vauxhall is,” he told The Times. “I’m sure we’ll see Vauxhall the brand disappear soon after the deal. Vauxhalls in the UK will sell here as Opels.”

The rebranding would not in itself affect jobs at Vauxhall’s plants at Ellesmere Port and Luton, he said. “There’s a great market for Opels in Russia, especially the Astra — it’s a mid-sized car which is perfect for the Russian market. If the Russians are looking to import the Astra . . . then Ellesmere Port will benefit.”

Oleg Deripaska’s company, Gaz, has teamed up with the Canadian car-parts firm Magna and the Russian bank Sberbank for a takeover of Opel and Vauxhall. Gaz would make Opel vehicles in Russia, while Magna said it would invest millions in Opel.

Before Russian factories are fitted to make Opels, however, thousands would be imported from European plants, Professor Morley said. “Because Ellesmere Port builds the Astra I think they’re relatively safe.”

The Luton plant, which makes vans, was less secure, he added. “But nothing will happen for months anyway because Magna will taking months to look through the books.”

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