Opel’s new owner, France’s PSA Group, is reportedly prepared to drastically reduce production at the German Ruesselsheim assembly plant. The German plant is responsible for Buick Regal and Regal TourX production.
Citing union sources, German newspaper Mainzer Allgemeine reported production will be cut in half from 123,000 vehicles a year to just 68,000. Opel not only builds the Regal for the U.S. and Canada, but also the Holden ZB Commodore for Australia and its local Opel Insignia. The Zafira commercial van is also produced at the German plant.
Both the Insignia and Zafira saw sales drop in 2018, down 6.8 percent and a whopping 39 percent.
An Opel spokesperson told Automotive News Europe (subscription required) that the company continuously adjusts production outputs and will do so to ensure capacity improvements. It’s unclear how the production cuts could affect the Buick Regal and Holden Commodore.
Last May, Opel’s labor leaders agreed to wage concessions to protect German jobs at the production site, and PSA has been ruthless in its cost cuts at the German brand, as well as its British cousin, Vauxhall. PSA bought both brands and GM’s European operations for $2.6 billion in 2017.
PSA’s goal was to return Opel to profitability by 2020, but last year, the French automaker announced the German brand had already turned a small profit. In the future, Opel will turn to electrification to cut the brand’s emissions across the lineup. PSA quickly realized (perhaps after lack of due diligence) that GM was incredibly reliant on the rebadged Chevrolet Bolt EV, nee Opel Ampera-e, to meet European Union emissions regulations.
Comments
Keep the TourX in production. ..please.
Why? No one is buying them.
Have you bought one yet?
No I’ve not purchased a new TourX. I’m waiting for the rediculous 50% Buick depreciation to kick in because uninformed buyers believe it’s a domestic product.
I’m also not spending the money on a new Subaru Outback, Audi A4, VW Alltrack or Volvo V60 either.
Hopefully Buick will offer a cladding delete option or it’s getting painted on mine when I get one because the Opel Insignia looks so much sexier.
https://jalopnik.com/buick-has-no-idea-how-to-actually-sell-the-regal-tourx-1826984906
PSA is winding down Opel as soon as they can as a German brand and replacing genuine Opel products with their French-Chinese crap, slapping Opel badge on thinly disguised Peugeots. And that I will never buy, after having driven Opel many years. Their technology lags behind Opel/GM and they don’t have the mindset in “democratising” newest technology like Opel did. French cheap quirkiness remains, unlike PSA’s claims for having lowest CO2 emission across their model lineup in Europe that have subsided after new WLTP testing has taken place. So, good bye. We miss you, GM.
I was afraid of something like that. Thanks for your comment bringing a little more clarity to the situation.
What the hell ?! SpinDoctor I have no idea where you found your “informations” but this is fully wrong !
1) There is nothing Chinese in the PSA production, they just have one shareholder which is Chinese, and does not have a majority of shares
2) Thinly disguised products ? Seriously have you compared Grandland vs 3008 vs C5 Aircross or C3 Aircross vs Crossland ? Only specialists can see they are based on the same models
3) PSA was one of the first carmakers ready for WLTP norms with Toyota ! in 2019 they are launching a series of electric and plug in hybrids (7 already known and perhaps more coming)
4) In Europe, no matter if it’s in France or Germany we find GM terribly bad at quality, reliability, management, that is why you see no GM cars on European roads and why everyone here is happy that PSA bought Opel from them !
So next time do some research before posting !
This will never be achieved with GM ownership of Opel. The unions and the government will scream like crazy and the unions burning down everything in sight.
And, I must add, Zafira minivan production is ending soon in Ruesselsheim. It will be replaced with PSA van-based 7-seater. It reduces volume and dictates doom to the plant. Regal, Insignia and Holden volumes will not justify keeping the plant running for long. Which is a pity since the plant was built in early 2000’s and still modern. It is only a matter of time when they will close it and end production in Germany for good.
Opel was too slow to jump into SUV bandwagon, they let the products age and were too happy with themselves. US management did not push Opel to reorganize in time when it was badly needed. So, here we are. Avoiding confrontation with the unions has lead to the loss of thousands of Opel jobs in near future.
Great i planing on ordering a 2020 Regal Sport back when they come out next summer. Well if so I will give them 3 months and if it does not come in I will cancel the order and get foreign brand. I have been a Big G M customer for many, many years I am just fed up with their B S!
Why not a 2019 Regal as there is generous discounts and a good selection since they are not selling.
Say it again everyone …..Kansas City production….
Say it again who here really has bought a new Regal?
It would cost more to move production than they would ever make.
You have great Regal and Lacrosse rotting on the lots now with rebates. So we should return to the dark days of GM and keep building cars just to build them even with them not making money or as much money as another model that could be making.
You do realize it’s a Malibu with a hatch/wagon body. If it cost billions just to add an slightly different version of what’s being made so accounts need to hit the door. BTW Regal sales been on a upswing despite sandbag Euro production..
I thought Regal sales have been increasing since the new style came out last year. They move well enough at my local dealerships. Not bad considering where they are being made. It beats having zero choices in sedans/wagons hatches and yet another god forsaken CUV in a world over saturated with them.
I bought a new 2018 Buick Regal Essence back in September of last year. I have to say it is the nicest car
I’ve ever owned and I am well pleased with it as well as the service I’ve had for it. I owned a 2006 Buick LaCrosse before that and it was a fine car also but not as nice as my Regal. I am dismayed that
GM is having trouble with its former Opel builder. I Would hope that production could find its way back to the US again. I just cannot bring myself to buy an SUV or crossover of any manufacturer ,foreign or domestic and I really would like my next CAR to be a Buick BUT……….
.
The Regal TourX makes me not miss my Saab or Volvo anymore. If they really blow them out…I may have two in my garage. Oh well.
I picked up a deeply discounted 2018 TourX Essence and couldn’t be happier. It managed 36 mpg at 70+ mph on the 150 mile trip home.
Grab a 2018 if you can find a good discount; they seem to be disappearing rapidly now. Test drive any current Regal and you’ll probably buy it. I’d get a 2nd one if I had the garage space.