Opel Astra F with over 1,000,000 kilometers on the clock

• Gerry Dirix, owner of a 25-year-old Opel Astra F, visits Opel headquarters in Rüsselsheim
• More than a million kilometers on the clock: it's possible!
• 31 years of Opel Astra: Compact bestseller and ambassador of innovation
• Five generations of success: Nearly 15 million Astras (F-K generations) sold

Beginning of a new era with the sixth generation of Astra, available as a plug-in hybrid, i.e. with electric drive, in two power variants.

Since 1991, Opel Astra has continued the tradition of innovation started by the Opel Kadett in the compact class. Opel Kadett brought premium technology to the mainstream and the Opel Astra - like its predecessor - has been Opel's ambassador of innovation through all its generations. The Astra gave everyone access to expressive design, versatility and dynamic handling, along with German thrills, precision and reliability. New generation of Opel's compact model, which made its debut in 1991, fully embodied the spirit of innovation that reigned at Opel. Newcomer also had a new name - Astra - and featured state-of-the-art security systems,

Opel Astra F emphasized reliability and durability. With this Astra, Opel had already taken an important step, opting for a closed circuit of raw materials with a high degree of component recyclability. From 1991 to 1997, Opel produced no less than 4.13 million Astras, making the Astra F the best-selling Opel to date. Opel was keen to point out that Gerry Dirix was one such buyer and takes great care of his car.

Gerry - immensely and rightfully proud of his car - wanted to personally present his Astra to Opel's new CEO, Florian Huettl. After all, his car has over a million kilometers on the clock and it still has the original engine and gearbox. A unique event for him and Opel!

This loyal customer is therefore called Gerry Dirix and he comes from Paal-Beringen. He is 45 years old and has been an Opel driver for decades. Professionally, he is a musician and also works in an educational institution.

At the age of 20, he bought an Opel Kadett as his first car, and his second car was a 1997 Opel Astra F, which already had 150,000 km on the clock. 25 years later, he has traveled a unique route, totaling more than 1,000,000 kilometers on the clock without any problems!

This car is still used for his daily trips.

Thanks to his calm driving style, good care and timely maintenance of his vehicle, Gerry achieved a unique performance.

He left on Tuesday, July 12 for Rüsselsheim with his Opel Astra F. "A very exciting moment that I was looking forward to," he says. “My car was ready a week in advance and had undergone a full technical check. Everything went off without a hitch, like it has for the past 25 years. But of course, I still had a little stress. An invitation from the headquarters of Opel is still something”.

Man from Beringen therefore arrived in Rüsselsheim on Tuesday evening without incident, with no less than a million and 11,000 kilometers on the clock. “A unique case,” he comments proudly.

Secret of this exceptional longevity, according to Gerry? “My car has always been maintained in an official garage with original parts. And of course the love of the driver also plays a role. Because it is and remains simple: take care of your car like a person, with love and respect”, says Gerry with great pride.

A message to which Opel fully subscribes, wishing Gerry Dirix and his Opel Astra F many pleasant kilometers to come!

Last year marked the start of a new era for the Opel brand, with the arrival of the sixth generation Astra: with the announcement of the last Astra in 2021, this successful model is now in its sixth generation . For the first time, the C-segment model from Opel will be available as a plug-in hybrid, i.e. with electric drive, in two power variants.