Stellantis Reaffirms Commitment to Opel and Germany

• Visit of Rüsselsheim plant and Design Centre
• Preview of future grEEn-campus

Stellantis Chairman John Elkann und Xavier Chéreau, Stellantis Chief Human Resources & Heritage and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Opel Automobile GmbH, visited the premises in Rüsselsheim and reaffirmed their support and commitment for the long-term future of the site. Together with Florian Huettl, Opel CEO and Stellantis Germany Managing Director, they visited yesterday the production plant, where the best-selling Opel Astra in all drive variants and the DS4 from its sister brand DS Automobiles are manufactured. They also received an insight into Opel’s future model portfolio in the Design Centre. Furthermore, they took time to talk to employees and social partners.

“Opel and Germany are very important to Stellantis. At a time of deep industrial transformation, I was happy to take the opportunity of this visit in Rüsselsheim to reaffirm our commitment to Stellantis’ German operations and to our high-quality dialog with our key partners and stakeholders, in particular IG Metall. This cooperative approach will bring sustainable opportunities to all in Germany, a first example of which is the construction of the grEEn-campus in Rüsselsheim,” said Stellantis Chairman John Elkann.

“The speed with which our German plants have transformed into efficient, state-of-the-art production sites is impressive. Of course, we must not let up on continuously increasing our competitiveness and quality in production and customer service. I would like to thank IG Metall and our works council for the constructive and trustful collaboration,” added Opel Supervisory Board Chairman Xavier Chéreau.

“Rüsselsheim not only stands for 125 years of automotive production, but also for innovation and progress. We look forward to the future with confidence, we will continue to play a pioneering role in the transformation of the automotive industry and surprise our customers with our exciting models. Opel is the first German manufacturer to offer a battery-electric variant of every model, without exception. 

With our employees and all partners, we are implementing our strategy with full conviction and concentration,” said Florian Huettl, Opel CEO and Stellantis Germany Managing Director. “With our extensive Stellantis brand portfolio, we have a strong market position; we are number two on the German market in total and number one in the German light commercial vehicle business. 

We will further develop the entire organisation together and focus on collaborative partnerships – inside and outside the company. We are one team for Stellantis in Germany. We have a strong dealer network as well as successful brands and models like the Opel Astra, Peugeot E-3008, Citroën ë-C3 and Fiat 500e.”

Just a few weeks before a crucial year for the entire automotive industry in connection with the stricter CO2 fleet limits, Stellantis rejoined the European Automotive Association ACEA. “We intend to engage constructively with all stakeholders, from our union and commercial partners to political leaders, to identify a common path towards a strong future for our industry. Our strategy and commitment to electrification remain unchanged,” emphasised John Elkann. The Stellantis Chairman shared his views with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, in recent conversations.

During the visit to the Adam Opel Haus, Elkann and Chéreau also received an update on the progress of the grEEn-campus project, the future Stellantis Germany headquarters and the new global Opel headquarters on Mainzer Straße in Rüsselsheim. The new modern, efficient and urban company headquarters will make a decisive contribution to reducing the carbon footprint of the Rüsselsheim location.

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.

Rüsselsheim plant starts into the electric future

Plant in Rüsselsheim is ready for the age of electromobility: Team at the Opel headquarters is pushing ahead with the extensive work on the implementation of the electrified EMP2 platform.

“Now the future of mobility is moving into our plant in Rüsselsheim. This is an important step in securing the future of the location, ”said Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller.

Plant manager Michael Lewald added: “Our team has done an excellent job over the past few months to enable the further developed EMP2 platform to be set up in this short period of time. We are very much looking forward to the electric future. "

Plant manager Michael Lewald 

Extensive work was carried out in all areas of the plant; A significant million contribution was invested in the Rüsselsheim plant.

In the paint shop, for example, the two-tone paintwork was set up and the so-called 3-wet process was introduced, a particularly emission-saving painting process. In the body shop, the systems for the new models have been set up in building K180. There were also extensive changes in the finishing and final assembly, in which, among other things, a new wedding and a new chassis line were built.

In addition, driverless transport systems are now also in use at the Rüsselsheim plant to ensure that the material delivery process runs smoothly. And all future models produced in Rüsselsheim will be tested on a completely new test track. Far-reaching innovations also include the IT systems and logistics processes.

Driverless transport systems 

EMP2 (Efficient Modular) platform is a flexible and efficient multi-energy platform that is used for vehicles in the C and D segment. Thanks to their high modularity, paired with variable chassis parameters, many model variants and thus a great deal of freedom in brand differentiation are possible.

Vehicles with conventional combustion engines and electrified vehicles can be produced on the same line thanks to the EMP2 platform, which brings an important degree of flexibility in the current ramp-up phase of electromobility: Production can respond to customer requests at any time.

New EMP2 platform enables the company to introduce a second production shift in Rüsselsheim. This is to start in autumn and is an important step in leading the plant into the future.Second shift will create around 300 additional jobs in final and final assembly this year, which will be filled internally with employees from areas of the company that are not sufficiently busy.

Stellantis prepares introduction of the second shift at the Rüsselsheim plant

• Stellantis is preparing the introduction of a second shift in its production facility in Rüsselsheim am Main
• This will create around 300 additional jobs in assembly and finishing this year

Organization of the second shift is made possible by the previously announced production of new models, the production of which will start this year in Rüsselsheim: From summer, a model of the French premium brand will be produced at the site with the new DS 4 and the next generation of the Opel Astra later in the year.

Right from the start of production, both models, which are based on the EMP2 (Efficient Modular) platform, will also be available as hybrids, making Rüsselsheim a future-proof production location for electrified vehicles. New positions are to be filled internally with employees from areas that are underutilized.

“Second shift is scheduled to start in autumn and is an important step in leading the Rüsselsheim plant into the future. We offer interested employees good prospects, because with the new electrified models, the plant will also be well utilized in the long term, ”said plant manager Michael Lewald. Opel Insignia, the flagship of the traditional German brand, is currently being produced at the Rüsselsheim plant.