!NEW! “Deutschlandplan” - Negotiations Successfully Concluded

• Milestone on road to profitability and future security
• Clear commitment to Germany and its plants
• Opel wants to remain in Bochum: plant can be converted into components site
• Eisenach plant continues to produce two models after 2015
• Second model for Rüsselsheim plant from 2015 in addition to Insignia flagship
• Compulsory separations excluded to end of 2016

The management of Adam Opel AG, IG Metall and the Opel works council today successfully concluded negotiations on the company’s “Deutschlandplan” (Germany wide plan). Main points of the agreement are measures to secure growth and cost efficiency as well as a clear commitment to Germany with its four Opel plants and the successful exclusion of compulsory separations to the end of 2016.

“General Motors fully supports Opel and is securing the necessary financing for the coming years, until we once again return to profitability,” says General Motors Vice Chairman and Opel Supervisory Board Chairman Steve Girsky. In return, tariff-bound pay increases will be deferred. Salary components above the general pay scale – such as Christmas bonuses above the general pay scale – will be excluded.

The most important changes for the German plants are as follows:

Opel is making the offer to not stop the production of complete vehicles in the Bochum plant at the beginning of 2015. Production of the Zafira Tourer can remain there until the model’s phase out. This is expected to be at the end of 2016. “Opel wants to stay in Bochum. We want to keep our warehouse in Bochum. We want to secure a total of around 1,200 tariff-bound Opel jobs in Bochum – and convert the location into a components plant,” says Girsky. Around 600 jobs can stay in the warehouse area, about 600 more in high-quality component production yet to be determined.

Regarding the F13 gearbox in Bochum, Opel is offering to continue production instead of ceasing it at the end of this year as planned. From the second quarter of 2013, production in Bochum will be adjusted from three to two-shift operation. Opel is offering attractive severance packages and partial retirement programs for the 700 affected employees.

Opel GM Bochum plant

With the development agency “Bochum Perspektive 2022” Opel is making every effort to settle new companies and technologies in Bochum and the region. Opel is expecting a four-digit number of high-quality, new industrial jobs.

Negotiations also took place regarding the future of the Eisenach, Kaiserslautern and Rüsselsheim locations:

Opel GM Eisenach plant

Opel GM Kaiserslautern plant

• Eisenach: Opel will continue producing two models after 2015 at the manufacturing site of the small cars Corsa and the ADAM.
• Kaiserslautern: The components plant is also secured beyond 2016. Opel is also planning with around 1,800 Opel employees in Kaiserslautern.
• Rüsselsheim: Opel will produce a second model in its main Rüsselsheim plant also after 2015. The next generation of our award winning flagship Insignia will also be exclusively built in Rüsselsheim. In addition, production of the F40 gearbox remains exclusively in Rüsselsheim.

Opel GM Rüsselsheim plant

The Rüsselsheim development center remains an integral part of the international GM development group. A strategic concept for the future will be developed for the Manufacturing Engineering area by the end of June 2013.

“Today is a good day for Opel and a good day for GM. Opel is and remains a key part of our global GM business. This “Deutschlandplan” is an important milestone for Opel to return to profitability by the middle of the decade. We will get our costs under control with it. The key to sustainable employment is growth. The key to growth is investment. We will support the Deutschlandplan with a multi-billion euro model offensive. 

Opel will enter new segments and markets. This is an important switch point for securing our long-term success and leading the Opel brand to new strength,” says Girsky.  In 2012 Opel was the third largest passenger car brand in Europe – and wants to grow further. More than half of Opel’s 37,000 employees in Europe work in Germany.