New electric Vauxhall Astra confirmed by 2030, but hatchback bodystyle under question

Vauxhall-Opel has confirmed that it will introduce an all-new, all-electric Astra by the end of the decade, but refused to confirm whether it will be available as a hatchback.

When the new electric Vauxhall Astra arrives in around 2029/2030, it will ride on parent company Stellantis’ new STLA One platform, which offers flexibility for electric-only and hybrid powertrains and will underpin the upcoming Alfa Romeo Giulietta hatchback and Peugeot’s widely expected E-309.

Upon arrival, the new electric Vauxhall Astra will comprise one of four new Opel-Vauxhall models, including a next-generation Corsa, a new SUV co-developed with Leapmotor, and a replacement for the Mokka.

While an estate or ‘Sports Tourer’ body option will remain due to being “hugely popular” in Opel’s home market of Germany, Vauxhall-Opel CEO, Florian Huettl, hinted that the new Astra could become a C-segment SUV to meet customer demand.

Should this happen, it would mark the first time since the Astra’s 1980 debut that it hasn’t been offered as a hatchback. It would also mirror long-term competitor Ford’s decision to bring back the Focus, the Astra’s erstwhile rival, as a crossover during the coming years.

Speaking to UK media following the announcement of a new Astra, Huettl commented: “Whenever we look at what the next generation of a well-established car such as the Astra should be, looking at the evolution of the segment is a big deall of our work,” he said.

“The hatchback segment continues to decrease. We see a lot of flow to other segments, namely the SUV bodystyles. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the new Astra is a traditional hatchback.”

Alongside fully-electric drivetrains, the upcoming Astra will be available as a mild hybrid and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV).

The new electric Astra will be built at Opel’s factory in Rüsselsheim, Germany, where Stellantis plans to invest €1 billion. The automotive giant is also building a new Vauxhall-Opel HQ in the wider Rhein-Main region, and a components facility in nearby Kaiserslautern.

The current-gen Vauxhall Astra has been facelifted for 2026, and is priced from £27,495 irrespective of powertrain.