Astra Drives Opel into High Gear

The best-selling model in the history of Germany's Opel, the Astra, continues to be the driving force behind the not so long ago battered GM brand. Since the launch of the new generation of the model, Opel has experienced a steady increase, one that is now making its presence felt.

With the confidence boosted by the high numbers generated by the Astra, Opel announced a series of measures meant to insure that the market doesn't become short on the hatch. Opel will add extra shifts in the Gliwice (Poland) and Ellesmere Port (United Kingdom) plants, boosting the production of both the five-door and the Sports Tourer version of the Astra.

A total of eight additional shifts are planned per plant for the months of May, June and July, but that appears not to be enough. Opel will add a third facility to the Astra manufacturing queue to cope with the demand. The model will come off the assembly lines in Russelsheim, Germany, as well, beginning at the end of August. Towards the end of the year, Opel will present another version of the Astra, the GTC, that will go into production in the first part of 2012.

“Thanks to our updated model portfolio, Opel is enjoying continued success. Especially the Astra’s popularity just keeps growing, and with the new extra shifts we will be able to meet customer demand even better,” said Karl-Friedrich Stracke, Opel CEO.

“With the introduction of the Astra GTC next year we will add an especially sporty chapter to the success story of this model series.”