!NEW! Opel to invest over 130 million euros in Kaiserslautern

• Future looks bright for the West Palatinate plant thanks to Opel’s product offensive
• New high tech sites for the manufacturing of modern engines and components
• State Prime Minister Malu Dreyer and Minister of Economy Eveline Lemke pay a visit 

From left to right: Chairman of the Works Council of the Kaiserslautern site Lothar Sorger, Site Director Elvira Tölkes, Minister of Economy of the Rhineland-Palatinate Evelyn Lemke, Opel CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann, Minister Malu Dreyer and Mayor of the town Kaiserslautern Dr. Klaus Weichel

The engine and component production plant in Kaiserslautern plays a seminal role in the implementation of Opel’s product offensive. This was a key message during Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann’s visit to the plant in Germany’s West Palatinate region. He was joined by Malu Dreyer, Prime Minister of the Rhineland-Palatinate and Eveline Lemke, Minister of Economy. Neumann announced an investment for the Kaiserslautern plant to the order of 130 million euros.

From left: Chairman of the Works Council of Kaiserslautern Lothar Sorger, Site Director Elvira Tölkes and Opel CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann

The sum will go into the construction of bodywork components and front seat structures for the next generation Opel Astra, as well as axles and bodywork components for the next generation Opel Insignia. It will also be spent on engine manufacturing. As of October next year, Euro 6 generation of the 2.0 liter family of CDTI turbo-diesel engines will be coming off the production line. The engine will stand out through its high performance, low consumption and noise attenuation as well as reduced exhaust emissions.

All four of the competence centers that make up the Opel plant in Kaiserslautern will benefit from the investment: engine manufacturing, bodywork components and seat manufacture, the building of chassis components and the press shop.

Karl-Thomas Neumann stated: „Kaiserslautern delivers high tech products to our automobile production plants which are of the highest quality. In this way, the plant makes a significant contribution to the success of our automobiles and to our product offensive which will secure the launch of 23 new models and 13 new power units over the course of the coming years.”

 “I am delighted that a major employer of the region is investing in the future for the long-term and in doing so, securing employment. This is evidence of the attractiveness of Kaiserslautern and speaks for the strong skills base of our employees” said State Prime Minister Malu Dreyer.

„The investments in the Kaiserslautern plant are proof of the high quality of our manufacturing and our competitiveness” explains Site Director Elvira Tölkes. “We manufacture top-end products with a motivated team and are very well positioned as a center for component production in the Opel/Vauxhall manufacturing network.”

The West Palatinate plant with its 2,200 employees currently produces components and engines for the Opel models ADAM, Astra, Corsa, Meriva, Zafira and Insignia. More than nine million engines have been produced to-date.

Press conference: The management team of the Kaiserslautern site together with Opel CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann (centre) announced on Wednesday the trailblazing investment in the Kaiserslautern site