Last November, Opel announced it would cease production operations at its plant in Bochum, Germany by the end of 2014. The last vehicle ever produced at Bochum, a Zafira Tourer MPV, rolled off the assembly line this week, signaling the end of its 52-years of service.
The total cost of closing down the Bochum facility was originally reported to be $500 million for severance and early retirement fess for the 3,300 employees that worked there. However that cost rose to $866 million after worker’s unions and Opel deliberated for months over a severance deal.
About 300 employees will remain at the Bochum plant as parts operations continues, but the future of the rest is unknown. Opel is currently in the midst of a turnaround, with ambitious goals to return to profitability by mid-decade.
Comments
What can I say? After two years from buying my new car in 2012 (a new Chevy Aveo T300 – Sonic in the US), GM announced that Chevrolet will no longer be commercialized in Europe starting with 2016. Here in Romania, all dealers got rid of Chevrolet from their showrooms starting with April this year…I’m really sad of what GM is doing in Europe and my only hope for the moment I will change the current car (around 2022) is Opel as I do like GM cars a lot. Will Opel survive till 2022? In the past years it has been the black hole of GM regarding loses…
If Opel will be no more I will look towards other brands like Kia, Hyundai, Skoda or even Renault.
I currently have five Bochum-built Opels, all over 42 years old. Well-built, reliable little cars that get used as daily drivers. All easy to fix and fun to drive.
I wish the good workers of Bochum well, and I appreciate their excellent work every time I drive one of their creations. For what it’s worth, I’m proud to do my small part to keep their product visible and on the roads of North America.