Numerous Guests of Honour at Open Door Day: Opel Celebrates 125 Years of Automotive Production in Rüsselsheim

• German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Hessian Prime Minister Boris Rhein, Stellantis Chairman John Elkann and Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares in attendance
• German Chancellor Olaf Scholz: “Generations of employees have made Opel the great brand it is today: an automobile company on path to electromobility. This is exemplary.”
• Preview of  future grEEn-campus, sustainable construction project for location
• Open Door Day with numerous attractions including public premieres of new Opel Grandland and new Opel Frontera

Opel celebrated 125 years of automotive production at its headquarters in Rüsselsheim today. Motto of festivities was “Forever forward since 1899”. Guests of honour at ceremony in Adam Opel Haus included German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Prime Minister of Federal State of Hesse Boris Rhein as well as Stellantis Chairman John Elkann, CEO Carlos Tavares and Xavier Chéreau, Stellantis Chief Human Resources & Transformation Officer and Opel Supervisory Board Chairman. Together with Opel CEO Florian Huettl, they visited, among other things, the production plant where best-selling Opel Astra in all drive variants and DS4 from its sister brand DS Automobiles are manufactured.

“Today is a great day for Opel and for our hometown of Rüsselsheim. I was very pleased about visit by German Chancellor, Prime Minister of Hesse and all other guests. During the day, we could share sound business model of Opel and our bold electrification strategy. We will be first German brand to offer a battery-electric version of each model in our portfolio this year still. With 125 years of experience in automobile manufacturing, we and our employees are proudly pursuing path of electrification with conviction. We are also continuing to invest in wellbeing of our employees with new carbon neutral grEEn-campus that will be built here in Rüsselsheim,” said Opel CEO Florian Huettl.

“125 years of automobile manufacturing in Rüsselsheim – this is a significant and impressive story. Ever since cars have played a role in our society, work has been done here day after day to make them even better. Generations of employees have made Opel the great brand it is today: an automobile company on the path to electromobility. You are once again facing future – fearlessly and full of confidence. This is exemplary,” said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Boris Rhein, Prime Minister of Hesse said: “Success of automotive industry is of strategic importance for Germany and Hesse. We therefore support the industry in transforming its production. For us, autonomous driving, hybrid technology, lightweight construction as well as drive and battery technology are key technologies that need to be promoted. Openness to technology rather than scepticism of progress is what brings us forward. I warmly congratulate Opel on 125 years of automotive production, innovation and driving pleasure.”

Ceremony from Adam Opel Haus with all speakers will be available as a recording from afternoon.

Preview of future grEEn-campus project

During the tour, Stellantis Chief Human Resources & Transformation Officer and Opel Supervisory Board Chairman Xavier Chéreau also presented plans for grEEn-campus project, future Stellantis Germany headquarters and new global Opel headquarters on Mainzer Straße in Rüsselsheim. New modern, efficient and urban company headquarters will make a decisive contribution to reducing the carbon footprint of Rüsselsheim location. Building's entire electricity needs will be covered by energy from a photovoltaic system on the roof. Approximately 7,000 panels will enable supply without the use of fossil fuels and climate-neutral operation of the entire office complex. Thanks to systems for using rainwater, water consumption will be reduced, efficient heat pump technology ensures sustainable air conditioning within building and greening of building components will improve biodiversity. All consumption is to be recorded using modern software so that new complex can continually be improved.

A contemporary and motivating working environment will be created for employees from administration, design, research & development and sales. New complex will be characterised by bright office areas with lots of daylight and high-quality materials. A landscape park with numerous green areas will offer space for breaks and exchange. An extensive charging infrastructure around grEEn-campus will enable electric vehicles to be charged during working hours – in line with company's electrification strategy.

Public premieres for new Opel Grandland and new Opel Frontera

All-new Opel Frontera and Opel Grandland were presented to the public for the first time today. With two newcomers, Opel will offer at least one battery-electric version of each model in its portfolio this year still. From 2025, every new Opel introduced in Europe will purely be battery electric. In addition, Opel once again confirms its brand promise of making electric mobility and innovative technologies accessible to a broad range of buyers. In Germany, Opel Frontera Hybrid 1 will be available from around €24,000 and Opel Frontera Electric 1 from around €29,000 (RPE including VAT).

Open Door Day with exciting programme

Opel offered several thousand visitors a varied supporting programme around the Adam Opel Haus at Open Door Day. German brand presented an anniversary exhibition with automotive milestones from last 125 years. To mark its 60th anniversary, Opel Design Center also opened its doors and presented groundbreaking concept cars from past and present. Interested visitors were also given the opportunity to take a look behind the scenes of production in plant. Rally fans had exclusive chance to ride along in Opel Corsa Rally Electric while young and old could test Opel Rocks Electric, which can be driven by anybody over age of 15 with respective licence 2. Kids Corner offered best entertainment for youngest guests, where, among other things, there was a pedal car course that invited them to take part in exciting laps.

[1] Model not yet available.

[2] AM-class driving licence in Germany. Applies to four-wheeled light motor vehicles with a rated continuous/utilised power not exceeding 6 kW, with no more than two seats and a maximum speed not exceeding 45 km/h.

Hessian Prime Minister Boris Rhein visiting Opel in Rüsselsheim

• Factory tour of Prime Minister Boris Rhein together with Opel CEO Florian Huettl
• Two-shift production of all Astra variants and the DS4 from DS Automobiles
• Opel Astra Electric will also start in Rüsselsheim in the new year

CEO Florian Huettl welcomed the Prime Minister of Hesse, Boris Rhein, to Opel's headquarters in Rüsselsheim today. Focus of the visit was on the new Opel Astra, which is manufactured at the Rüsselsheim plant as a five-door and sports tourer in two-shift operation. In the coming year, the sporty GSe and the battery-electric Opel Astra Electric will roll off the assembly line here in addition to the well-known plug-in hybrid. This makes the Astra the first Opel to be available in all drive variants - from highly efficient combustion engines to electric drives. In addition, DS4 of the premium brand DS Automobile is manufactured in Rüsselsheim.

“All-new Opel Astra is already a success. Order books are full. And with the Opel Astra Electric, we will consistently continue our electrification offensive in 2023. We already have twelve electrified models on offer. By 2024 our entire portfolio will be electrified, and by 2028 we will only sell electric vehicles in Europe. We are profitable in the long term and want to continue to grow - with sustainable and attractive models," said Opel CEO Florian Huettl during the visit of the Hessian Prime Minister.

“Opel is a piece of Hessian identity. Car manufacturer belongs to Rüsselsheim like an engine belongs to a car. It is therefore very important to us that the structural change in the industry and the associated changes for employees also succeed in Hesse," said Prime Minister Boris Rhein.