!NEW! Official Start of Production for Opel ADAM: Lifestyle and Innovations “Made in Eisenach”

• Only car in its segment produced in Germany
• Thuringia plant boasts flexible production and highest quality
• Investments total 190 million euros
• Over 16,000 orders received before official market premiere on January 19
• Individualization champion with over 61,000 combination possibilities for exterior and almost 82,000 for interior
• Opel ADAM will soon be supported by Siri Eyes Free Mode on iPhone

Big venue for a small car: today Opel celebrated the official start of production of its new lifestyle small car ADAM in the Eisenach plant. Many special guests came in honor of the ADAM. “This is a special moment for Eisenach and for the entire company. The ADAM is bold, innovative and versatile, and thus embodies the pioneering spirit that is moving Opel into a new era,” says Steve Girsky, Opel Supervisory Board Chairman, GM Vice Chairman and President GM Europe.

Both Thuringia’s Minister of Economics Matthias Machnig and Deputy Chairman of the Opel Management Board Dr. Thomas Sedran underlined the fact that Opel is the only automaker that not only develops but also builds a small car in Germany. Sedran: “The ADAM is a clear commitment to our plant in Eisenach and to Germany as a whole.” With its vast possibilities for individualization, the ADAM poses challenges for planning, logistics and manufacturing. “The highly qualified Eisenach team as well as everyone in the company who has worked on this project can be proud of this day,” added Sedran.

High jumper Ariane Friedrich was also proud: The European Athletics Indoor Champion 2009 and multiple German champion had the honor of driving the ADAM off the assembly line next to Opel Supervisory Board Chairman Steve Girsky – on a day no less special than her birthday.

Investments of 190 million euros in flexible and modern manufacturing facilities

The key prerequisite to build the ADAM is the ability to be flexible. After all, there is no other car in this class in the world that can offer more than 61,000 variants for the exterior and nearly 82,000 for the interior – ranging from a vast selection of colors and rims to special details like different headliners. Dr. Sedran says, “Whoever orders an ADAM today can be quite certain that he/she won’t see an identical car. Almost every ADAM will be unique – that’s how extensive the diverse range is that we are building here.” Opel invested around 190 million euros to be able to produce this second car line in Eisenach in addition to the Corsa.

The car “Made in Eisenach” already made a huge impression on the public after it was presented at the Paris Motor Show last fall. Now the official premiere at Opel dealerships in Germany is right around the corner on January 19. “Already today we have more than 16,000 orders from all across Europe,” says Dr. Thomas Sedran.

Opel ADAM assembly in Eisenach

Extravaganza of affordable innovations

“The ADAM is not only a symbol of Eisenach and Thuringia. It is a symbol of the entire company. Today Opel has the most attractive model portfolio in its 150-year history and the ADAM is a vital part of that,” emphasizes Plant Manager Stefan Fesser. In particular he pointed out the new clever and affordable technologies in the car. The IntelliLink infotainment system makes the ADAM the best connected small car, as it integrates the owner’s iPhone or Android device in the vehicle. ADAM will soon be supported by Siri Eyes Free mode. The lifestyle car also offers a spectacular selection of innovations that to date were only familiar from higher classes, if at all. Unique in the segment are for example a newest-generation Automatic Park Assist (APA II), heated steering wheel, Side Blind Spot Alert (SBSA) and the Opel-exclusive, fully integrated rear bicycle carrier FlexFix.

Opel ADAM with fully integrated FlexFix bicycle carrier 

Opel’s multibillion euro model offensive continues. The next newcomer, the elegant Cascada convertible, is already in the starting blocks and will be at dealerships in the first half of this year. From 2012 to 2016 Opel will introduce a total of 23 new vehicles and 13 new engines to the market.

Opel Cascada convertible