1857 Marine engineer Alexander Wilson founded the Vauxhall Ironworks in Lambeth, London and named after the Vauxhall district of Lambeth.
1903 The company joined the horseless carriage business, building several tiller steered single cylinder vehicles without having a reverse gear, of which a single survivor could still be seen at the London Science Museum in 1968.
1905 Vauxhall builds a factory at Luton where, from 1907, most of its vehicle production will be completed.
1907 Vauxhall Motors Limited formed, based at Luton and named after the residential area in which its predecessor company was formed.
1925 Vauxhall becomes part of the American automotive combine General Motors.
1930 Bedford Vehicles - the commercial vehicle arm of Vauxhall - is founded.
1960 Vauxhall builds a new factory at Ellesmere Port.
1963 Production of the Vauxhall Viva small family car commences, with the new car being aimed at the likes of the Ford Anglia and Morris Minor. The German version of the car will be sold as the Opel Kadett. The locally assembled Vauxhall Viva will be launched in Australia in May 1964.
1966 Vauxhall's Slant Four goes into production - the first production overhead cam four cylinder engine to use a rubber timing belt. Also the FD Victor is launched at the Earls Court Motor Show, considered by many to be one of Vauxhall's finest all-British styling efforts.
1970 The HC Viva is launched, which went on to become Vauxhall's best-selling car of the decade.
1973 The Vauxhall Firenza "Droopsnoot" is unveiled at the Earls Court Motor Show, introducing the public to Vauxhall's new aerodynamic look for all of its subsequent 1970s models.
1974 Vauxhall moves into the mini-car sector with the introduction of its Chevette, a rear-wheel drive range of hatchbacks, saloons and estates. It is the first hatchback Vauxhall ever made, and in Germany it will succeed the Viva-based version of the Opel Kadett.
1975 Vauxhall launches a new entrant in the large family car market in the shape of the Cavalier, an ultramodern range of rear-wheel drive saloons and a "Sporthatch" Coupe. It is a restyled version of Germany's Opel Ascona.
1978 Vauxhall strengthens its position in the executive car market with the launch of its all-new Carlton saloon and estate, which are re-badged versions of the German Opel Rekord.
1979 Vauxhall Viva production ends after 16 years and the car's successor is the Astra - Vauxhall's first front-wheel drive car, which comes as a hatchback or an estate. Being identical to the German-built Opel Kadett, all Vauxhalls are now identical to Opels.
1981 The second generation Vauxhall Cavalier is launched, with front-wheel drive, but is pipped to the European Car of the Year award by the Renault 9.
1982 Vauxhall announces the launch of the Nova supermini, which will eventually replace the Chevette. It is available as a hatchback or a saloon.
1983 Production begins of the Vauxhall Cavalier Estate, which is produced in Australia alongside the Holden range.
1984 The aerodynamically-styled Vauxhall Astra MK2 becomes the first Vauxhall car to be elected European Car of the Year. Sales also begin of the Senator executive saloon, an upmarket version of the Carlton that is the first Vauxhall to share its nameplate with Opels.
1985 Vauxhall launches the Belmont - a saloon version of the Astra which offers more interior space and is almost as big as a Cavalier.
1986 Vauxhall wins another "European Car of the Year" award with its all-new Vauxhall Carlton (badged Opel Omega on the continent).
1988 The Vauxhall Cavalier MK3 goes on sale across Britain but will be sold as the Opel Vectra in Ireland and mainland Europe.
1989 The Cavalier chassis spawns the Calibra coupe, which is officially the most aerodynamic production car in the world. Production also begins of the Vauxhall Lotus Carlton (Opel Lotus Omega on the continent) which at 175 mph (282 km/h) is the fastest Vauxhall ever made and also the fastest four-door Vauxhall of all time.
1991 The third generation Vauxhall Astra goes on sale with Opel versions adopting the Astra nameplate for the first time. The saloon version will be badged Astra rather than Belmont. The Frontera goes into production as Vauxhall's first four-wheel drive model.
1992 Vauxhall Nova production ends after 10 years and the all-new replacement adopts the European Corsa nameplate.
1994 The Vauxhall Carlton nameplate is abandoned after 16 years and Omega takes its place. Vauxhall also adds another vehicle to its four-wheel drive line-up in the shape of the Isuzu-based Monterey.
1995 Vauxhall joins the expanding "compact coupe" market with its new Corsa-based Tigra sports model. Cavalier production ends after 20 years with its successor wearing the Vectra nameplate.
1997 Vauxhall announces the end of Calibra production after eight years.
1998 The fourth generation Vauxhall Astra is launched, winning plaudits for its much improved ride and handling. Its chassis spawns a seven-seater "compact MPV" - the Zafira. The Vauxhall Monterey is withdrawn from sale in the UK, though it continues to sell in the rest of Europe as an Opel.
1999 Vauxhall facelifts the Vectra to include 2,500 improvements that bolster its previously disappointing ride and handling.
2000 Vauxhall enters the sports car market with the Lotus-based VX220 roadster. It re-enters the coupe market with the Astra Coupe. The new Agila city car and Corsa supermini also go on sale.
2002 The all-new Vectra goes on sale, alongside a large hatchback badged as the Signum.
2003 Vauxhall Omega production ends after nine years with no direct replacement, as does the Vauxhall Frontera after 12 years.
2004 The fifth generation Vauxhall Astra goes on sale and also spawns a new version of the Zafira as well as a TwinTop Astra which doubles as a coupe and convertible.
2005 The Vauxhall Vectra gets a facelift, receiving a new front-end design in line with the current Vauxhall/Opel design phase and a new engine.
2006 The third generation Vauxhall Corsa goes on sale and narrowly misses out on the European Car of the Year award.
2007
Vauxhall's new 4x4 the Vauxhall Antara is set to be released in the July of the year
Vauxhall's powerful vxr8 that comes with 411 bhp (306 kW).
2008
Vauxhall begins rebranding with a modified corporate logo, no car sports the new badge until the launch of the Insignia, models will only change over as they are updated.
Vauxhall Insignia is launched at the London Motor Show, replacing the Vectra.
Vauxhall launch new Agila city car.
2009
Vauxhall Astra all-new model launch
2010
New Vauxhall Combo light van expected
2011
The Vauxhall Ampera will be Vauxhall's first Electric Car
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