Opel’s workers representatives have proposed a way of building the Chevrolet Epica in Rüsselsheim, more cheaply than it could be built in China.


According to Automobilwoche, works council chief Klaus Franz, has said that the car could be built on the same platform as the new Insignia (GM’s global Epsilon architecture), that is using the same production equipment. At a rate of around 30,000 units a year, these could be fitted in using the agreed flexible working hours.


The current agreement with workers is that they should work between 35 and 40 hours a week for the same wage, but recently workers have been working only 35 hours a week. If they worked 40 it would not cost Opel anything.


The redesigned and renamed Insignia – replacing the Vectra – goes into production at the end of the summer. The Saab 9-3 and 9-5 will also be built at the plant.

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