PSA Groupe continues to integrate its latest acquisitions, Opel and Vauxhall, into the business, and more details surrounding the brands’ futures have come to light.
We already know PSA plans to reduce redundancies and move Opel vehicles over to its own platforms, but Opel engines won’t be long for this world, either. Automotive News Europe reports PSA plans to place its own engines under the hoods of Opels sooner rather than later. The consequences of this may mean job cuts at Opel, which employs hundreds of engineers.
“We will gradually start using PSA platforms and engines for the Opel model lineup,” PSA development chief Gilles Le Borgne told Automobilwoche a sister publication of Automotive News Europe. “This won’t happen overnight. It will take a few years.”
Although PSA didn’t announce any official switches from Opel powertrains to PSA ones, it’s inevitable, and PSA brass alluded to it. “Opel will draw on experiences from our own restructuring, so we expect synergies to be gained with every model replacement,” Le Borgne added.
Peter Fintl, a director of technology at Altran, which works with PSA on powertrain technology, said the automaker has no use for Opel’s conventional technology, which paints a dim picture for engineers. Opel has 3,000 engineers on hand, and most were working on GM-related projects when the sale was finalized.
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Opel does not only 3000 engineers at hand. 7000 people work in the Rüsselheim ITEZ. The number 3000 refers to the number of people working for outside GM development contracts, with enough work to do up to 2020.
Opel Automobile GmbH is currently producing engines in 4 locations:
• Kaiserslautern, Germany.
Employees 2,140
Products: Body, seat and chassis components, and 2.0 L diesel engines
• Tychy, Poland. 410 people in this former Isuzu, then GM-Isuzu engine palnt — engines (unspecified).
• Aspern, Austria: 1,390 people produce five- and six-speed transmissions, and Family 0 Engines
• Szentgotthárdm, Hungay. 1,210 poeple produce New mid-size diesel engines, New mid-size gasoline engines, New small gasoline engine family, Family 1 engines
The historic Rüsselsheim factory also produces Transmissions (and components) besides producing and assembling complete cars (Insignia and twins for GM-brands).
Number of workers per December 31, 2016 (rounded), products as per February 2017.
Besides Rüsselheim, Opel Automobile GmbH disposes of five assembly plants:
• Zaragoza, Spain
• Ellsmere Port, England
• Luton, England
• Eisenach, Germany,
• Gliwice, Poland
According to ACEA, PSA has (in Europe) 3 (three) engine plants:
• Douvrin
• Héimoncourt
• Trémery
Don’t know where precisely those are located, and how many people they employ
As long as Ellesmere port safe…..wonder when changes will take place?
1st: the real solution is adapting the amount of human labor by cutting the work week down to 30 hours (30 for 40).
2nd: An injury to one is an injury to all, and only the widest reaching solidarity can help, not “I only care for myself, let the others go down”. That is the way to lose, not to win.
Don’t think there will be any surprise here, sad as it is for those who will be affected by any announcement.
However, I doubt very much every former GM engine facility in Europe will close. It simply wouldn’t be possible for PSA to inject over 1 million engines destined for Vauxhall and Opel, cars into its existing engine facilities overnight. So whilst the engines may change over time, I’d be very surprised if at least some of the existing facilities are not retained.
The other issue of course is electrification and regulation. There are few (if any) automotive engine facilities in Europe which have a shelf-life greater than 20 years. It will be interesting to see where PSA establishes electric powertrain manufacturing facilities, which will secure the future of plants in a manner petrol and diesel engines will not.
Ford uses more global part, powertrains in an effort to cut costs. Opel would have made GM a profit had it used more non specific parts.
GM will regret selling Opel.
if any company wants to cut costs, just make it in mexico, i read the workers there are paid on average less that $4/hr.
GM will not regret one dam thing about getting rid of opel/Vauxhall! I am so glad GM finally came to this realization! This news today makes me giggle
Yes, because the French know how to design superior engines. PSA is committing suicide by allowing to give up Opel’s engineering knowledge.