Litocar brings Opel back to Santa Maria da Feira

Litocar, the Opel dealership in Santa Maria da Feira, has inaugurated its new facilities at 1.° de Maio Street, 99, Roligo Industrial Area, which involved more than 2.5 million euros in investment. The ceremony was the highlight of a number of actions prepared since 2014 in collaboration with General Motors (GM) Portugal.

João Cardoso, Litocar’s administrator, was clearly happy, and said during the ceremony that the City Council of Santa Maria da Feira was an important partner throughout the whole process: right at the onset, by holding a public tendering for the sale of two land plots that the group later purchased, and by streamlining the licencing of the construction works «which could not have gone better», he explained.

He also took the opportunity to thank the design team and the company’s partner for twenty years, Coimbra’s A. Baptista de Almeida, which constructed the building within the deadline, seven months, despite some setbacks on the ground, and to budget. Litocar’s representative also encouraged the entire team, led by Joaquim Tomás Nave.

Also present at the ceremony, GM Portugal’s General-Manager, Falcão Neves, stressed how strong is Opel’s image, both in Portugal and in Europe, which now joins Litocar’s own strong image. He also praised the way the city council monitored the whole process and met all deadlines: «they are an example».

Falcão Neves also encouraged the Litocar team. «Here you have all it takes to attract the customer. The rest is up to you», he said.

Mayor Emídio Sousa stressed that his municipality is "among Portugal’s 10 most export-oriented”. He noted that one of his electoral promises had been to «fully welcome investment and reduce unemployment». Smiling, he added that the unemployment rate was 15.1% when he took office, as compared to the present 10%. He enthusiastically said that Litocar’s new facilities mean more jobs. «Companies create jobs, that is why we must help and make life easier for entrepreneurs», he underlined.

Litocar’s building, which has been in operation since December 2015, also hosts the Honda and Hyundai dealerships, and includes a space for the sale of used vehicles of all brands from the Litocar Group: Usados 100%.

The new Opel facilities in Santa Maria da Feira represent yet another stage in the Litocar Group’s strategy for expansion, and aim to respond to the needs of the customers of the German make in the municipalities of Santa Maria da Feira, Espinho, Castelo de Paiva, Arouca, Ovar, São João da Madeira, Oliveira de Azeméis and Vale de Cambra

Construction safeguarded environmental concerns

With a total area of 8.400 sq. metres (3.860 m2 in covered area), the facilities are modern and ecologically sustainable. The building’s concept gave priority to natural lighting and LED bulbs, propane gas and burners, reducing CO2 emissions. There was also a concern towards minimalizing environmental risks, by installing an integrated system for managing lubricants and a double-walled collection tank. Solar panels are responsible for about a quarter of the building’s energy needs. Regarding technical assistance, Litocar provides mechanical services for Opel, Honda and Hyundai vehicles (as an official repairer) and a multi-make collision centre. Other services include car rental, vehicle inspection, pic-up and delivery of vehicles, online repair scheduling and the sale of original parts and accessories. The new facilities created 15 new jobs, involving trained professionals in trade, mechanics and collision.