OPEL. OPEL in GERMANY
Adam Opel AG, 65423 Ruesselsheim,
Germany
tel. +
496142, fax + 496142/774859, http://www.opel.com
Models produced in Germany:
Corsa, Astra III (hatchback, Caravan estate body version), Zafira II, Vectra III
(sedan, Caravan estate body version), Signum; models produced in Great Britain:
Astra III (hatchback, Caravan estate body version), Vectra III (sedan, GTS
hatchback), Speedster; models produced in Belgium: Astra III (GTC hatchback,
hatchback, Caravan estate body version); models produced in Italy: Astra II
Coupe, Astra II Cabrio (Bertone); models produced in Spain: Corsa, Meriva;
models produced in Portugal: Combo Tour, Combo Trend; models produced in
Poland: Agila, Zafira II, Astra Classic II (sedan, hatchback, Caravan estate
body version); models produced in France: Tigra Twin Top (Heuliez).
Production volume in Germany in 2003 - 589,860 vehicles (excluding
the CKD / SKD sets). Since 1886, at the company established in 1868, Adam Opel has manufactured
bicycles. In January 1899, the Opel brothers took over the Lutzmann company, manufacturing cars
since 1893,
and
that very same year showed
the first Opel ever, called the Opel
Patent-Motorwagen System Lutzmann, produced until 1902. In 1902, Opel bought a license from the
French Darracq company, and launched the production of cars under the Opel
Darracq make, which did not succeed. It was only the first Opel model - the 10/12 PS of 1902, that caught on.
Established in spring 1925, the General Motors GmbH assembled Chevrolet trucks in
the years 1926-1931 in Germany, and in the years 1927-31 - the passenger Chevrolet, Buick,
Pontiac, Oakland, Oldsmobile and Cadillac cars. In March 1929, General Motors
bought 80%
of Opel
shares, and in 1931 the remaining 20%. Today, Opel cars are produced in Germany, Great Britain, Spain (since 1982), Portugal
(since 1963), Belgium, Poland
(since 1994),
Italy
(since 1999),
France
(since 2004),
India
(since 1996),
Egypt
(since 1987)
and
South Africa, and assembled in Ukraine (Since 2003). In Great Britain, Germany,
Spain, Portugal, Italy and Poland, Opel cars are also produced under the
Vauxhall brand. In Great Britain, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Thailand, they are
marketed as Holden cars. In Germany, Thailand, Argentina, Mexico,
Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Brazil, they
are also produced / assembled
as Chevrolets. Latest premieres: Paris 2002 - Meriva, Eco-Speedster and
Combo-Eau Rouge concept cars; Essen 2002 - Corsa OPC; Geneva 2003 - Signum, Speedster Turbo and GTC
Geneva hatchback concept car; Frankfurt/Main 2003 - Astra III hatchback 5-D,
Corsa restyling, Agila restyling, Combo Tour restyling and Insignia concept
car; Essen 2003
- Vectra GTS OPC Turbo Diesel; Geneva 2004 - Tigra Twin Top and
Trixx concept car, Madrid 2004 - Astra III Caravan estate body version, Paris 2004 - Astra III GTC 3-D, Vectra sedan
restyling and prototype of Astra III GTC OPC; Detroit 2005 - Astra Diesel Hybrid concept
car; Geneva 2005
- Zafira II, Zafira II OPC, Astra III GTC OPC; Leipzig 2004
- Combo Trend. Plans
for the future: 2005 - Vectra / Signum
restyling, Astra III Cabrio (production in Belgium); 2006 - Corsa IV GT Roadster
(production in the USA), SUV (production in Korea); 2007 - Agila II, Vectra IV In 2003, production of the
following models was terminated: Omega, Omega Caravan, Astra II hatchback /
sedan, Frontera and Frontera Sport, and in 2004 - of Astra II Caravan.
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