German Hesse state prime minister, Volker Bouffier, has added his powerful voice to those clamouring for Opel/Vauxhall to expand its export philosophy.
Bouffier made his comments during a visit to Opel’s Russelsheim headquarters – in Hesse State – and home to a plant which has not exactly been given a ringing endorsement by CEO Karl-Friedrich Stracke.
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“Rüsselsheim also has to remain competitive and so we have to increase flexibility and significantly reduce our costs per vehicle,” he said yesterday (14 May) as speculation grows Astra production will shift to Opel’s UK and Polish factories at Ellesmere Port and Gliwice.
Opel’s unions have long clamoured for extra flexibility when it comes to exporting the brand’s products outside traditional markets and, although Stracke hinted there was more to come in that area, Bouffier made his regional government’s view crystal clear in a statement emailed to just-auto.
“I also advocate for Opel to sell cars worldwide – I do not see any reasons why the disposal should be restricted,” he said. “Opel is a part of Hessian identity – that is why I will continue to support the people in the region. Even though I take the concerns of the workforce very seriously, politics can only set the frame conditions for our economy.
“Keep the Opel headquarters in Rüsselsheim – [it] has an outstanding reputation. The site is more than just an employer, it has an identity for the people of
the region – which I have emphasized to Mr Stracke. I made clear to him I can understand the concerns of the employees.”
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By GlobalDataAlthough Stracke has not named which Opel/Vauxhall plants will be used for future Astra production, he did confirm forecast volumes would only allow for two plants working three shifts, meaning one site will likely lose out although manufacture of all moel lines could be reshuffled within the group to compensate.
