the company magazine of adam opel ag founded 1949 opel ......cept rolls up in front of the adam opel...

it can’t do is fly a liGHtninG stoRM of caMERa flasHEs was unleashed as the Monza Concept was unveiled

to the world’s press. The show car features breathtaking

proportions, gull-wing doors, and a mix of pioneering

technologies. And that’s not all by a long shot:

Opel / Vauxhall unveiled another six world premieres

at the 65th Inter national Automobile Exhibition

(a. k. a. IAA). So there was never any doubt that Opel

Post would provide extensive coverage on the exhibition

in Frankfurt in a huge IAA Special.

only tHinGOpel MOnza COnCept

Opel pOstthe company Magazine of adam opel aG foundEd 1949 opEl post no. 3 / sEptEMbER 2013

tHE

WitH a HuGE

Cover photos: Florian heuriCh; photos page 2: Florian heuriCh, MarCus Weinert, rudolF MehlhaFF / pBMs, opel

Big Things Are Happeningthe rodgau-dudenhofen test center expands

With an Eye on the Holevienna native herbert Ziegler is a mini-golf enthusiast

Gliwice Celebrates Colleagues look back on the past 15 years

The Virtual Garagemyopelservice.com brings Opel Service online

Strong Performance The Frankfurt Motor Show, IAA, the world’s largest automotive exhibition,

is like a home game for Opel / Vauxhall. And it’s well known that home teams usually win home games. In fact, our scores kept coming at this year’s IAA with our seven world

premieres, from the new Insignia to the Monza Concept. This was reason enough for a huge special in the new Opel Post. Of course, the big attraction was the fasci-nating Monza Concept, which bridges the gap between our legendary models and those of the future. In an exclusive for Opel Post, the designers of then and now, George Gallion and Friedhelm Engler, present the Monza GSE and the IAA study in detail. You can download an Opel poster of your personal dream car, the Monza Concept, so that all those with the thunderbolt engraved in their hearts can enjoy the beautiful two-door model every day!

Roland Korioth, Editor-in-Chief

WE ArE OpEl

CrEDITSpuBlISHEr adam opel ag, internal Communication, 65423 Rüsselsheim, Germany

EDITOr-In-CHIEfroland Korioth

EDITOrIrene Nowotny

prODuCTIOn Content Strategy GmbH, Grosser Hasenpfad 30, 60598 Frankfurt / Main, Germany

lAyOuTM & r Kreativ gmbh

ADDrESS Of THE EDITOrIAl OffICEinterne Kommunikation, redaktion opel post, ipC d5-08, 65423 Rüsselsheim, Germany Tel.: (+49-6142) 774-057 and (+49-6142) 750-506 Fax: (+49-6142) 778-131 E-mail: [email protected]

03– 06

13

14 – 15

16

11– 12

ContentOpEl pOST nO. 3 / SEpTEMBEr 2013

MOnzA MEETS COnCEpTin an interview, the designer

george gallion and

Friedhelm engler explain

what the Monza Concept

represents

07– 10

read now

read now

SEVEn AT OnE BlOWOpel / Vauxhall ignites a fireworks display

of great innovations. Seven world premieres

were presented, all on 3,200 square

meters in Hall 8 read now

Karl-Thomas Neumann connects with the Monza ConceptTina Müller, Karl-Thomas

Neumann, Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Steve Girsky (from left to right)

Awe-iNSpiriNGAt the 65th International Automobile Exhibition (IAA) in Frankfurt, Opel/ Vauxhall presented no fewer than seven world premieres. The Opel Post asked employees, visitors, and fans about their favorite innovation

PhOTOs: KATrIn DEnKEwITz, FlOrIAn hEurIch, AnDrEAs lIEbschnEr / PbMs, OPEl

A shining Cascada Visitors at the cockpit check

03 Opel pOst NO. 3 / september 2013IAA specIAl / 03 We Are Opel / 11

the other when going around bends.” It feels like the electronic stability program has been refined. “I feel extremely safe in it, even at speeds over 200. And because the guys at Opel have also built in new software, the road handling is always perfect.” Even though he cannot personally present it in Frankfurt due to the schedules of the Bundesliga and the Champions League, Klopp’s commitment to the OPC is unflinching: “I’ve returned my Porsche 911. I drive an Insignia OPC, or I don’t drive at all.”

View the new promo with Jürgen Klopp at http://bit.ly/1g9jjvX

2.

Attractive in teal: The new insignia and Spanish TV presenter, Carolina Alcázar

Cameras flash at the press conference

Look, Dad. O / V captivates the

smallest of visitors

»I drive an Insignia OPc, or I don’t drive at all.«

1.


nticipation. The pace becomes quicker. September during the IAA: There’s Hall 8. The yellow

of Opel stands out confidently through the many colorful LEDs. Finally! For months, employees, and fans have waited to experience Opel / Vauxhall’s seven innovations at the Motor Show, to explore them and feel them. We asked: “Which model makes your heart race?” Here are seven answers.

1. The smart oneThe new Insignia’s design has received much praise, even from Carolina Alcázar. “I love this car. It matches my dress perfectly,” says Carolina, who presents the car

Aprogram, ‘Máquina,’ on Spanish television. She says: “Opel is a popular brand in Spain, so of course we report extensively from the Opel booth.” Head’s up, Carolina: Opel is the market leader in your country by the way. Incidentally, the Insignia not only scores points for its attractive exterior, it is also smart – thanks to the exclusive myOpel Manual app, buyers no longer have to page through manuals.

Video on the app at http://bit.ly/189twKv

2. The one that makes no compromises

When he saw the photo of the polished chrome bar on the new Insignia OPC at the IAA, Jürgen Klopp called out: “Be nice to it, that’s simply a brilliant car.” The manager of the Bundesliga team, Borussia Dortmund, and Opel brand ambassador drives the 325hp Insignia OPC. “I like players who are fast and technically experienced. The same goes for cars,” he adds. Klopp was especially impressed by the tightly cut sports seats. “I don’t like to be thrown from one corner to

“As a father, I think that safety is the most important aspect of a car. So the Siri Eyes Free voice control feature really impressed me,” he says. The look is more important for his daughter though. “Smartphone design in black and white with the details in brushed aluminum. That’ll be my new one,” says his daughter.

5. The cultivated oneHaving Patrik Dellner at the Opel booth is particularly fortuitous for two groups of IAA participants. One of these groups is the hostesses, who can now concentrate on presenting, the other is the visitors, who learn from Dellner’s expertise, as he explains “why the sound and vibration behavior as well as the smooth running of the new threecylinder 1.0 SIDI Turbo engine are noticeably better than many four cylinders.” The engineer Dellner and eight of his colleagues from the development center are incredibly proud of their work and

4.

3. The adventurous onePodium appearance, flashing cameras, and applause. At the Goethe University in Frank furt, Rouven Dackermann has never experienced anything like it. “At least not when I’ve been involved,” says the mathematics student, smiling. However, O/V has now bestowed such a feeling of glamour on him: During the press conference with international journalists, Dackermann drove onto the stage in the Insignia Country Tourer. “A fantastic car. I had goose bumps,” he reports. Dackermann won a competition on the Opel Facebook page to take part in this away game. Currently, Dackermann drives an Agila A. “But this offroad combination is a real adventure. Plastic paneling on the bumpers and skirts, the hint of an

3.Taking a breath in the trunk:

rouven Dackermann wants to take the insignia

Country Tourer off-road

pure expertise: patrik Dellner and the 1.0 SiDi Turbo

Jan Mathea with the ADAM Black Link

underride guard made of aluminum, as well as fourwheel drive with a Haldex clutch. Some day I want to try this thing out on rougher roads.”

4. The connected oneNothing is more important to Jan Mathea than the safety of his daughter. He is not bothered by the fact that the 20yearold is recently into a guy named Adam and raves about his looks. Because Dad knows the object of her desire very well. And trusts him. At the moment, Mathea has a lot to do with Adam, who writes his name as ADAM. As an Opel employee in the service workshop, he looks after the exhibition vehicles – the special models known as ADAM Black Link and ADAM White Link.

5.05 Opel pOst NO. 3 / september 2013IAA specIAl / 03 We Are Opel / 11

exchange views on Opel’s campaign during the show. The internal company network, Jumpstart, to which Dellner belongs, initiated this campaign.

6. The fun-loving one The new marketing boss, Tina Müller, who has been at Opel since 1 August, is a fan of convertibles. Her favorite one is the Cascada with its new powerful 1.6 SIDI turbocharged engine. “The stitched seams of the leather seats have the quality of a luxury handbag,” she says. “147kW/ 200hp of power, 300 Newton meters of maximum torque, and top speeds of 235 km / h,” she continues, listing the performance features. Well, there’s someone who has adapted to the company quickly. Tina Müller also accepted an award at the IAA. She won silver in Auto Bild’s Autospot video competition for her promo ‘Straight Talk with Jürgen Klopp.’

Can the Opel booth be measured in figures? but of course!

3,385 square meters is taken up

by the booth in Hall 8

140 employees work at the booth,

of whom 80 are hostesses and hosts

150 assemblers prepared the stage

for Opel’s seven world premieres

65 flatbed trucks supplied the material

for the booth and loaded …

40 tons of steel, 14 kilometers of cable,

1,300 lights, and 100 square meters of LED

and lcD screens

6.

7.

Convertible fan: Marketing boss

Tina Müller likes the Cascada

with 200 hp

Starship enterprise? No, the cockpit of tomorrow made by Opel

First it was built, now

it’s awe- inspiring

Good to go: CeO Neumann in the Monza Concept

7. The visionary oneOne car is always surrounded: by cameras, by visitors, the star of the booth is the Monza Concept, which is object of KarlThomas Neumann’s enthusiasm: “It’s the model that drives us on. It is a symbol of our brand’s regained strength!” There is a spirit of optimism at Opel, which is not only evident in the athletic concept car, but also in the company’s HR policy. Opel is hiring 350 new engineers in order to advance the ongoing model and engine campaign. These are therefore the ideal conditions to make sure that Opel / Vauxhall has a whole new batch of world premieres to unveil at the IAA in two years’ time.

The official Monza video is available at http://bit.ly/1b9XO0c

06 Opel pOst NO. 3 / september 2013IAA specIAl / 03 We Are Opel / 11 CONTeNT

Photos: Marcus Weinert / oPel, oPel archive

Two men, two visions: Monza GSE, Friedhelm Engler, George Gallion, and Monza Concept (from left)

one had once shaped the Monza Gse. the other, his

apprentice, now references his old mentor, with the

Monza Concept. Two designers of two coupés meet exclusively

for the Opel Post

Riding on a yellow truck, the Monza Con-cept rolls up in front of the Adam Opel Building. The namesake of the brand-new concept vehicle, a Monza GSE, is already set. George Gallion, who designed the orig-inal 1977 Monza, and Friedhelm Engler, Director of Advanced Design of the Monza Concept, follow spellbound, as the two cars are placed side by side – a moment

worthy of goose bumps. Dozens of employ-ees gather immediately, pulling out their smartphones as they walk around the racers. Even the two designers cannot be persuaded to pose for the photographers as planned. While the Monza Concept is still assuming its position, Gallion opens the tailgate of the GSE. “That was a tricky thing,” he says, stroking the delicate trim-ming of the rear window. “It ensures the extremely slender structure is rigid enough, and we wanted this structure at all costs,” he explains. “When designing the Monza Concept,” says Engler, “we were inspired by the tailgate’s glass.” And the car is now finally good to go.

With a stroke of his finger over the rear fender, Engler opens the huge gull-wing door. Silently. Gallion takes his seat. Using a touchpad, Engler raises the LED projection. The curved cockpit, stretching from door to door, springs to life. Virtual buttons and control dials appear on the cockpit surface. “Everything can be shown here. A CD cover, the navigational map, a Facebook app, whatever you want, when you want it,” explains Engler.

A dAy For ThE hiSTory bookS


opEl poST: Mr. Gallion, you made history with the Monza A2 in 1983. It was the first car with a digital display. What do you think of this new kind of instrument panel?GAllioN: Some newspapers called our display a ‘mouse screen’

back then. I liked that. This is like, how should I call it,

“Mickey Mouse meets Star Wars.” I am even slightly envious

when I see what’s possible today. How beautiful this car

has become.

ENGlEr: Hey, George, you’ve got goose bumps. This interface

between human and machine is crazy, right? The infotainment

and instrument panel was originally intended to be small.

Then we realized that it works really well. We can place the

multifunctional, customizable dash panel across the entire

width of the dashboard. It’s state of the art.

The technicians are insistent: The handcrafted show car must be moved out of the sun. After all, it’s supposed to appear at the Frankfurt Motor Show in just a few hours. The interview is taking place in the GM design center. The woman at the reception immediately recognizes the master craftsman in his casual attire: “Mr. Gallion, how are you?” The designer stops to talk with her. He feels at home in his old surroundings.

Mr. Gallion and Mr. Engler, your paths coincided at Opel in 1992. did you ever run into each other?GAllioN: But of course. I actually interviewed Friedhelm

for the job.

ENGlEr: I still remember it well. After the interview, George

showed me around the studio and let me look under all the car

covers. That was actually against the rules. But that’s typical

of the fascination with Opel / Vauxhall. It’s approachable, both

then and now.

how has the work of designers changed?ENGlEr: The early stages always

involve pencils, felt pens, and

quality paper. That hasn’t changed.

Right, George?

GAllioN: Yes. It’s the old cliché –

the designer sits in a café and

sketches with pencil and paper

in front of them. That’s true. Even

in meetings, while designers are

listening, well, most of the time,

they are drawing while they’re at it.

ENGlEr: What has changed, of

course, are the tools – computers

and 3D programs.

48 years ago, Opel was the world’s first car manufacturer to present a concept car at the IAA, the Experimental GT. Now it’s the Monza Concept. how important are concept cars for the evolution of design?GAllioN: The show cars are there in order to showcase new

design ideas. They don’t necessarily have to result in a product.

Rather, they aim to illustrate a trend. At that time, Opel had

the first design department that was only allowed to research

without regard to a particular product line.

ENGlEr: The Monza Concept is the vision of the Opel brand,

and for us, too, for designers, employees, and colleagues.

It is incredibly motivating to see a vision take shape. Indeed,

we have just seen what happened in front of the Adam Opel

designers chatting: Gallion (left), Engler


»Hey, you’ve got goose bumps!«

exclaims Friedhelm Engler, laughing

»I am even slightly envious when I see

how beautiful this car has become,« admits Gallion

in the shadow of the gull-wing door, Gallion and Engler inspect the concept vehicle

Building. Before the car is even in position, colleagues

gather in droves to see the car and take photos. You don’t get

that at other companies; employees rarely catch

a glimpse of a concept vehicle before an exhibition.

how was the idea of the Monza Concept born?ENGlEr: It began with a vague presentation, a fleeting drawing.

We wanted to visualize efficiency that could also be realized

from the point of view of engineering. The idea was for it not to

convey heaviness but also not fragility. Then the sketch of the

lady and the dog was born. (Engler pulls out a poster showing the car next to a lady and a greyhound.) This

greyhound is just skin and bone, but can run incredibly fast, and

looks elegant doing it. That is perfect. Also, this woman, she’s

got a 70s, 80s look on the one hand, but is also modern and

cool. That was it, that was a full story. Together we developed

the idea for another two years. A show car is not the work of

just one person. It is a team effort, involving 70 or 80 people.

Getting back to the greyhound, over and again we read that animals are the inspiration for car designs. do designers visit the zoo regularly in their free time?ENGlEr: I don’t think that our people hang out at the zoo.

Although, George, there is that story about the manta ray …

GAllioN: That was in 1969. In response to the Ford Capri, we

designed a prototype for a coupé in the space of four weeks.

Predator names were ‘in’ at the time. We wanted to name it

manta and use the shape of the fish as the emblem. But nobody

could tell us what this fish looked like at all. Nobody but

Jacques Cousteau, the marine biologist. So I went to see him in

Paris to get photos of the manta ray. And well, the fish wasn’t

all that beautiful in the end. So then we gave it a more elegant

look in the design.

ENGlEr: Examples from the animal world are appreciated

simply because they mean something to everyone. When I talk

about a cheetah or a greyhound in conversation, everyone

has an image in their mind straight away.

Clear edge: The design of the Monza and its transformation into the Monza A2

Video available at http://bit.ly/1g0kmoG

The Monza A1 was presented at the Frankfurt

Motor show (iaa) in 1977. the three-door

coupé of the new top model, Senator, was

ideal for everyday use with its four seats.

The Monza was powered by six-cylinder en-

gines with 2.5- to 3.0-liter cubic capacity. The

Monza A2 replaced it at the end of 1982. In

1983, the top GSE line featured digital display

instruments for the first time. Production of

the coupé ended in 1986, but today it is

fast becoming a cult classic.

Monza A1 / A2

It combines the silhouette of a sports break

with the line of a coupé, and gull-wing doors

with functionality. Highly modern instruments

and infotainment displays using LED projection

technology are indicative of O / V’s plan for

sweeping integration. As for the drive system,

the modular design ensures the highest degree

of flexibility. A 1.0 SIDI turbo engine is connect-

ed to the electric drive system of the design

study, with more combinations possible.

Monza Concept


Completing the circle: The concept vehicle was born out of a sketch (above)

Monza: that means, a sports coupé with a lot of space inside. What parallels can be drawn between the Monza A and the Monza Concept?ENGlEr: The Monza Concept stands on its own. However, there

are certain intentional references to the Monza A, for example,

the implied air ducts of the C pillar. The duct along the roofline

reflects functionality that is typical of Opel. This makes it

a high-value four seater that makes no compromises. The

generous sculpted glass – another reference – brings lightness

and also gives it a more slender appearance. Otherwise, the

Monza A is just a namesake, a reference. While we had it

with us in the studio, we didn’t do a retro design, and we didn’t

cook or rehash any old ideas. George and his team never

looked back either. (Gallion nods)

How much of the Monza Concept’s design will be incorporated into new opel models?ENGlEr: Like all Opels, the Monza Concept vehicle is the em-

bodiment of our basic messages – sculpted design and German

engineering skill. But it twists it, pushes it to the next level –

by placing the emphasis on extremely strong proportions.

Simple lines are therefore sufficient in other areas. Just like a

beautifully grown Christmas tree. That’s sculpted design.

And it’s evident in the Astra GTC: The lateral, fully pulled sheet

metal completes the stage performance.

Is it often the case that you have to sacrifice a brilliant design idea for functional or technical specifications?ENGlEr: No, not if you develop the idea from the

beginning together with colleagues from the engineering

and marketing depart-

ments.

GAllioN: I’ve never

tried to do anything that

wasn’t technically

feasible. But if the

engineers said to me,

“no, we cannot tilt this

com ponent another

degree,” then I’d say,

“Ok, then just try half a

degree more.”

We have to ask one more thing, seeing as we have two renowned designers with us: What cars do you have in your private garage? Mr. Gallion, you arrived today in a Meriva …GAllioN: Yes, that’s my fourth already! The door design of the

Meriva B is very practical, particularly when I have my

five-year-old grandchild with me. And the blue Aero GT, at Opel

Classic, that’s mine.

ENGlEr: I’m pursuing a special project at the moment. My son

and I are turning an Opel GT into a rally vehicle, which we

want to use for racing. When it’s finished, I’ll come over to your

place and we can do some laps.

GAllioN: It’s a deal! dt

Friedhelm Engler

Born in 1963, the Director of Advanced Design at GM Europe

studied design at the University of Pforzheim for three years,

before moving to Tokyo to work as a product designer. At Opel,

he began as a transport designer, was later head designer

on the Meriva A and the Astra H, then Director of Design for

Global Compact Car Architecture. Until 2010, he managed the

design department of the PATAC development center in

Shanghai. As Director, he was responsible for show cars and

studies, including RAK e, RAD e, and the Monza Concept.


George Gallion

Born in the U.S. in 1937, he joined GM in Detroit after

having studied industrial design in Atlanta, Georgia. In

1969, he moved to Opel and became Deputy Design

Director. Many Opel / Vauxhalls carry his signature, from

the Manta A to Monza to his latest projects, the Signum

and Movano. He retired in 2002 and lives with his wife in

the Taunus mountain range in Germany.

CoNTENT

Photos: Rudolf Mehlhaff / PBMs

Matthias Schollmaier’s outstretched arms show the orientation of the

new straightaways

turning loops and sloped curves. The size of the straightaways, which are up to 30 me-ters wide, is illustrated by Schollmaier: “You could land a Boeing 737 there with no problem.”

This new circuit is the first to be lo-cated outside the ‘ancestral’ test area and will run parallel to the main highway. The current access road therefore has to be moved, so a new gate will be built to the north. And that’s not all. By 2015, around € 35 million will be invested in the facility

southeast of Frankfurt. Traffic management there will also be completely reorganized: Cameras and floor and side an-tennae will be able to communicate using a chip inserted into the license plate.

And Schollmaier has even more ideas up his sleeve. “Our transport connections here are brilliant, what with the highways and airports and all,” he says. He would like to exploit this trump card even further. While he plays his cards close to his chest, he gave this much away: “We’ll continue to grow here.” The next page provides details on what has been achieved to date. dt

irector of GME Proving Grounds is his title, the European test site is his territory: Dr. Matthias Schollmaier. The Opel test cen-

ter in Rodgau-Dudenhofen will be exten-sively expanded by 2015 under his direc-tion. Schollmaier combines a world view with a keen eye for detail, when he says: “We must be proactive in our planning so as not to mortgage our future options.”

As of the end of the August, the larg-est among the many construction sites here is a 2.1-kilometer straightaway including

d

Big ThingS Are hAppening

there is lots of excitement at the opel test center in Rodgau-dudenhofen. the reason is a long straightaway and even more new route sections


Training Center (OPC)This course remains at the heart of in-house and external driving lessons.

High-speed circuitThe four-lane, steep track, which was renovated in 2012, will continue to be the site’s highlight. A slope of up to 40 degrees allows for speeds of 250 km / h without lateral forces.

New long straightawayThe straightaway on which Opel will chase the future is 2.1 kilometers long. It has ten lanes at its widest point, and the sloped curves of the turning loops ensure an unimpaired and lively pace. Radiation dome

The antenna system, which measures the signal strength of navigation and radio devices, will be moved here from Pferdsfeld.

Expanded handling routeUphill and downhill slopes, sharp bends and short dips are all part of this section.

New city trackTypical inner city driving situations will be simulated on a new city track.

Special obstaclesManhole covers from several European countries put driving comfort to the test. The trick: Their height can be adjusted.

Expanded workshop and administration areaDevelopers of exhaust gas rollers will find a home here, with testing stations, workshops, offices, and 100 parking spaces. The chassis workshop will be built in the southeastern area, complete with a high-rack tire warehouse and 60 new parking spaces.

New access road and new gate / employee parking lotThe new access road is to be located to the northeast of the current road. It leads in an arc to the test center’s new gate. The required infrastructure, including parking spaces, will be built here.

Old access and exit roadThe road previously leading to the test center will in future serve as part of the new long straightaway.

Opel Test CenterSince the first test drive in 1966, Opel has

developed a test site of the first order in the Rodgau Forest. Round track, a circuit designed to measure comfort

and noise, as well as one for hills, handling, and tortuous ground, all enable intense vehicle tests. GM and Opel

engineers develop vehicles on the circuit and in their own buildings. External customers can also lease the center for tests

or driving lessons. Around 10,000 people use the site every year. Some 300 Opel employees work in Rodgau-Dudenhofen currently.

21

3

4

5

6

8

9

10

11

7


Linked

This sport is all in the head: Herbert Ziegler is Europe’s number two miniature golf champion and is number three in the Austrian rankings.

Miniature golf is played on concrete paths of 12 to 25 meters in length. So what counts in this sport? “Concentration and precision. If some-thing else is running through your mind, it will be evident straight away in your perfor-mance,” says Ziegler, who works as a logistician at the F17 transmission area in

Vienna-Aspern. During competitions, he has to play four rounds a day for five days.

Ziegler became interested in miniature golf rather by chance. He used to play ten-nis in Gänserndorf, until a miniature-golf course was built next door: “I’ve been an

active miniature golfer since I was 16,” he says. He trains once or

twice a week in his home club, the SV OMV Gänserndorf.

He also trains with the national team several

times a year. Each of these training courses last three days. The real se-

cret to his success? “My wife spurs me

on, that really helps.” ke

»Opel’s 300-euro system beats them all!«Auto Bild put 13 multimedia systems to a massive test. The clear winner was the IntelliLink infotainment system of the Opel ADAM.Auto Bild 31 / 2013 (August 2013)

»I look forward to exchanging ideas in 140 characters and will provide interesting insights into Adam Opel AG.«The CEO is now tweeting: @KT_NeumannKarl-Thomas Neumann, September 2013

Keeping your eye on the hole

Safe Thanks to Pyrotechnicsstable The Cascada is as safe as a closed car.

Its rollover protection system makes this possible.

This system uses pyrotechnics to shoot out roll-

over supports and deploy them behind the rear

seats within 200 milliseconds.

Sophisticated tech nology

in the Cascada

The BoSSeS & the WidoW

An automotive legend from Rüsselsheim

at the Oldtimer Grand Prix at Nürburg-

ring. The Black Widow led the historic

Opel fleet to cheers along the demon-

stration lap. Two ‘bosses’ had climbed

into the roll cage: The impish grins

visible under the helmets were those of

Opel CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann and

Communications Director Johan Willems.

‘KTN’ is enthusiastic: “The car has power,

a wonderful sound, and is surprisingly

easy to steer – if necessary even with

the right foot. Our cars are simply

amazing – today and every day.”

They didn’t release the lap times for

these two though.

The Golf Pro

»It’s all about concentration and precision in mini golf.«

Herbert Ziegler, Number Two European Champion

13 Opel pOst NO. 3 / september 2013iAA SPeCiAl / 03 We Are oPel / 11

PHOTOS: ANDREAS URBAN, OPEl

The Gliwice plant celebrates 15 years. Four

employees reminisce about the early days and

discuss their daily routines and their passion for

building cars

“15 years – that is such a long

time and then again, it’s not

that long at all. This period

was enough to establish a

pivotal company site, which is

recognized across the entire

corporate group. But at the

same time, there has always

been a feeling of belonging to

a young, energetic plant that

will be around for a long time

to come. We brought countless

models to the production line,

and we are continually work

ing on improving ourselves.”

“I am responsible for ensuring

that production operations

run smoothly. In other words,

our team has the task of fore

seeing the unforeseen on the

production line. We always try

to be one step ahead of the

problem. The interesting part

is that working in repairs

guarantees that the daily

routine is never dull or with

out excitement. The processes

involved in the Cascada are

currently proving to be an

interesting challenge for us.”

“The first Astra model we

produced is on display at the

entrance. Usually, I’m not

sentimental at all, but each

time I see this car, a feeling

of emotion mixed with elation

overcomes me. And it’s not

just me. Every one of our

vehicles represents more

than just the sum of its mere

components. Besides the

engine, steel, and paintwork,

there is also pride and a lot

of fun involved in manufac

turing an automobile.”

“I went back and looked

it up in my records: When

I started here in 1998, there

were eight people working in

the purchasing department.

Today, there are 115 employ

ees. We procure building

components for the entire

corporate group. My team

manages steel provisions

in the European pressing

plants. Our job is to elicit

high quality and favorable

conditions from the suppliers

as best we can.”

Gliwice

14 Opel pOst NO. 3 / september 2013IAA SpecIAl / 03 We Are Opel / 11

PhoTos: oPel

Krzysztof Michalski, Repair engineer

Andrzej Korpak,Managing Director at General Motors

Manufacturing Poland

Klaudia Sarota, Commodity Manager for

Non-Fabricated steel

Urszula Pawełczak,Team leader

in the Paint shop

BUILDING

FUN AT OPEL

The relationship between Opel and Gliwice began in the mid-1990s. The city in southwest Poland won out over 100 competitors in the decision over which district would obtain the contract as the site for the planned plant. “When the first Astra rolled off the line in 1998, we couldn’t have foreseen how rapidly things would develop,” says Marek Żurowski, Product Engineering Manager in the Quality

Assurance department. After 15 years and 1.8 million vehicles, Gliwice is the parent plant of the Astra models GTC, OPC, and the notchback version. The Cascada was recently added to the port folio in February and has driven innovation in production processes at the plant to the next level. “The convertible is integrated with high-quality components, such as the fabric cover and the two A pillars made from press-hardened steel. The integra-tion is very time-consuming technically and is usually associated with vehicles in the higher classes,” explains Marcin Cieszyński. The welding engineer adds: “We are also the first

plant in the company group to upgrade to liq-uefied petroleum gas (LPG) engines on the line, a feat which would otherwise have been implemented by Opel Special Vehicles.” mk

picnic for the Big Day12,000 visitors participated in

the plant’s special day to celebrate

15 years of existence. These included

many employees, whose families and

friends enjoyed a picnic on the plant

grounds. The guest of honor was

Jerzy Buzek, former Prime Minister of

Poland and President of the european

Parliament.

3,000 eMplOyeeS

1.8 MIllIOnVehIcleS

MAnufActureD tO DAte

207,000 prODuctIOn VOluMe In the pASt yeAr

6 MODelS In the pOrtfOlIO, All BuIlt On the SAMe lIne

film: colleagues from Gliwice on their plant

The silesian site scores highly with the Astra, Cascada, and its pioneering production processes

15 YEArs AT GLIWICE15 Opel pOst NO. 3 / september 2013IAA SpecIAl / 03 We Are Opel / 11

PhoTos: oPel, KRzyszToF RAJCzyK

cAScADA since February 2013

AStrA hAtchBAcK since November 2009

AStrA Gtc since october 2009

AStrA Opc since May 2012

AStrA SeDAn since August 2012

AStrA SeDAn clASSIc since August 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOn2hC1ArpE

Photos: AndreAs Liebschner / PbMs, oPeL

The VirTual GaraGemyopelservice.com connects customers with their opel service partners and delivers customized offers

t’s the latest big buzzword in the industry: integration. Car, smartphone, tablet, and PC

are connected and exchange data, all thanks to mobile Internet. “We have recognized this trend and have now brought Opel Service online,” says Timo Hinze, Head of Service Communication.

myOpelService is available to customers as an Internet portal (www.myopelservice.com) and as a free app for iOS and Android smart-phones. When registering, the user provides the details of their Opel / Vauxhall in the online form, such as its vehicle identification number and their preferred service partner. The re-sulting vehicle profile enables offers and cus-

tomer information to be tailored to the specific car in question

(see right). Employees and customers are then also entered to win cash in a draw each week or even have a chance at

winning an Opel the end of the

year. vmr

helP when creating an accident report, saving GPS data and photos. The ‘emergency Mea-sures’ section provides tips on simple repairs and maintenance work such as jump starting and changing a wheel.

SerViCe features dealer- specific service offers. Missed

appointments are a thing of the past, as the app reminds

the user of any repair shop or general inspection dates.

CONNeCT Profile management is located in this area. There

is a link to the O / V website and to the O / V pages on

Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. an online form

can be used to arrange test drives directly with

the dealer.

i

MY Car contains vehicle specifications (cars built from 1997 on ward) and a virtual

garage for up to four cars, interactive operating manuals (cars built from 2009 on ward), myOpel Manual with an augmented

reality feature exclusively for the new insignia starting in November, as well a

parking space reminder and meter timer.

Opel / Vauxhall owners will now be able to obtain customized offers and tailored

information on their car

»We have brought opel service online.«Timo hinze,head of service communication

More at http://bit.ly/19upfvq

16 Opel pOst NO. 3 / september 2013 CONteNtiaa SPeCial / 03 We are OPel / 11

the company magazine of adam opel ag founded 1949 opel ......cept rolls up in front of the adam opel...

Documents