. ▁The ▁V aux hall ▁In sign ia ▁was ▁launched ▁at ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁British ▁International ▁Motor ▁Show ▁at ▁Ex C e L ▁London , ▁replacing ▁the ▁V ect ra ▁and ▁won ▁another ▁" Europe an ▁Car ▁of ▁the ▁Year ". ▁V aux hall ▁launched ▁the ▁new ▁Ag ila ▁city ▁car . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁a ▁new ▁generation ▁of ▁the ▁V aux hall ▁A stra ▁was ▁launched . ▁ ▁On ▁ 3 0 ▁May ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁a ▁deal ▁was ▁announced ▁that ▁was ▁to ▁lead ▁to ▁the ▁spin - off ▁of ▁the ▁V aux hall ▁and ▁Op el ▁br ands ▁into ▁a ▁new ▁company . ▁On ▁ 1 ▁June ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁V aux hall ▁Mot ors ' ▁trouble d ▁parent ▁company , ▁General ▁Mot ors , ▁file d ▁for ▁bank rupt cy ▁in ▁a ▁court ▁in ▁New ▁York . ▁By ▁then , ▁the ▁sale ▁of ▁V aux hall ▁and ▁its ▁German ▁sister ▁subs idi ary , ▁Op el , ▁was ▁being ▁negoti ated ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁a ▁strategy ▁driven ▁by ▁the ▁German ▁government ▁to ▁ring ▁f ence ▁the ▁business es ▁from ▁any ▁General ▁Mot ors ▁asset ▁liquid ation . ▁The ▁sale ▁to ▁Canadian - owned ▁Mag na ▁International ▁was ▁agreed ▁on ▁ 1 0 ▁September ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁with ▁the ▁appro val ▁of ▁the ▁German ▁government . ▁During ▁the ▁announ cement ▁regarding ▁the ▁sale , ▁Mag na ▁promised ▁to ▁keep ▁the ▁V aux hall ▁factory