Opel's Gliwice factory doubles production in 2015
The Opel factory in Gliwice (south Poland) produced 169,400 cars in 2015, 53 percent more than a year earlier. Factory representatives hope that an economic revival in Europe will bring further rise in production also in 2016.
The level of this year's production above all depends on the demand for the fifth-generation Opel Astra. Its production started in Gliwice in the fall of 2015.
Agnieszka Brania of General Motors Manufacturing Poland has told PAP that although this model was available in most European countries only since November 2015, still the factory already received orders for over 65,000 such cars. "This is a very good result. It means that the model has met the market's expectations and gives hope for bigger production in Gliwice this year," said Brania.
Representatives of the Opel plant assess that 2015 was an exceptionally good year for Gliwice. In February, the factory started to produce Holden Astras and Cascadas meant for export to Australia and New Zealand. April marked the two millionth car produced by the Gliwice plant since its opening in 1998. However, the biggest event of the year was the start of production of the fifth-generation Opel Astra, and the car was well-received by the market.
November saw the start of production of Buick Cascada meant for the North American market.
The introduction of new models and stabilisation as well as economic revival in Europe contributed to a significant production growth compared to the crisis-stricken 2014 when only less than 89,000 cars rolled off the production lines at the Opel factory which has an annual production capacity of 207,000 cars.
General Motors Manufacturing Poland is a component of Opel/Vauxhall, which is the European branch of General Motors. The plant produces passenger cars, in Gliwice, and 1.7l diesel engines in nearby Tychy. With crew reaching 3,900, the company is a major employer in the region. (PAP)
aa/
