Opel previously stated the first production, 2017 Mokka X had left the Zaragoza, Spain assembly plant weeks ago, but WardsAuto reports the facility will be the permanent home to the crossover.
The previous Opel Mokka was produced in South Korea before Opel tapped the Spanish facility to build additional units due to its enormous success in global markets. Now, Zaragoza will be responsible for production wholly, per the report.
The Zaragoza, Spain facility will also be home to the upcoming Opel Meriva, which will share engineering with the Citroen C3 Picasso in accordance to the mostly-dissolved PSA-GM alliance. An updated Opel Corsa will also be produced in Spain come 2018.
The news likely comes as a relief to the Spanish plant, which has frequently been idled following the global recession. Opel will also hire 1,400 new employees by 2018, aligning with inbound product; the brand will launch 29 models between now and 2020.
Comment
GM needs to look at US/EU capacity together as opposed to separately. Regardless of whether a free trade agreement is ever signed, first developed world manufacturing footprints should be lumped together. The excess capacityin Brazil should be included as well.
GM could easily do the manufacturing for FCA of 200 in Brazil which would help margins.