General Motors Europe (often abbreviated to GM Europe) was responsible for the operation of General Motors Corporation ("GM") businesses in Europe. The subsidiary was established by GM in 1986 and operated 14 production and assembly facilities in 9 countries, and employed around 54,500 people. GM's core European brands are UK-based Vauxhall and Germany-based Opel, which sell much the same range of cars in different markets. It formerly owned the Swedish marque Saab until early 2010. The U.S. brands Corvette and Cadillac are imported into Europe in small quantities. After Saab was sold to Spyker GM and its German subsidiary Opel decided to eliminate the former GM Europe organization in Zurich, Switzerland. Opel is now managed from its brand headquarters in Rüsselsheim, Germany. In Europe th