Photo: Opel
Since French PSA group took over the destiny of Opel in 2017, the German carmaker seems renewed in force and optimism. Currently operating under PSA’s PACE! Plan, Opel has shifted its business model to one it apparently clicks with.
That plan includes everything from new car models to their production allocation, and is yet to be fully implemented.
On Thursday (June 27) Opel revealed its next industry move as part of the plan agreed with PSA, one that would see a boost in production for one of its most popular models, the Astra.
Currently, Opel is building the Astra on the platform it inherited from GM and its dark ages, but that will change when production of the new model starts in 2021. The new generation will be constructed on PSA’s EMP2 platform that already underpins a great deal of Peugeot and Citroen models, but also some new Opel arrivals.
Opel says the new Astra model is crucial to the carmaker’s electrification plans, meaning at least a plug-in hybrid variant of it will be produced.
The current generation Astra comes from Ellesmere Port (UK) and Gliwice (Poland), but the Brexit conundrum is forcing PSA to look for alternative solutions. Should UK’s exit from the EU be favorable, Ellesmere will probably share production of the new Astra with Russelsheim, the new addition to the model's production roster. It’s unclear what will happen to the UK facility should a hard Brexit occur.
To make the production of the new Astra possible at Russelsheim, PSA committed to investing in upgrading the facility. The size of the investment was not disclosed.
“This is an important step forward for the Rüsselsheim plant. This investment will allow work in two shifts and secure the sustainable future of the Rüsselsheim plant,” said in a statement Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller.
“This result shows the determination of all involved stakeholders to come to an outcome that works for all parties. Rüsselsheim will continue to play an important role in the industrial footprint of Groupe PSA.”
On Thursday (June 27) Opel revealed its next industry move as part of the plan agreed with PSA, one that would see a boost in production for one of its most popular models, the Astra.
Currently, Opel is building the Astra on the platform it inherited from GM and its dark ages, but that will change when production of the new model starts in 2021. The new generation will be constructed on PSA’s EMP2 platform that already underpins a great deal of Peugeot and Citroen models, but also some new Opel arrivals.
Opel says the new Astra model is crucial to the carmaker’s electrification plans, meaning at least a plug-in hybrid variant of it will be produced.
The current generation Astra comes from Ellesmere Port (UK) and Gliwice (Poland), but the Brexit conundrum is forcing PSA to look for alternative solutions. Should UK’s exit from the EU be favorable, Ellesmere will probably share production of the new Astra with Russelsheim, the new addition to the model's production roster. It’s unclear what will happen to the UK facility should a hard Brexit occur.
To make the production of the new Astra possible at Russelsheim, PSA committed to investing in upgrading the facility. The size of the investment was not disclosed.
“This is an important step forward for the Rüsselsheim plant. This investment will allow work in two shifts and secure the sustainable future of the Rüsselsheim plant,” said in a statement Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller.
“This result shows the determination of all involved stakeholders to come to an outcome that works for all parties. Rüsselsheim will continue to play an important role in the industrial footprint of Groupe PSA.”
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