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History of the Opel brand

The German company Adam Opel AG (Opel) is part of the Peugeot-Citroen group, headquartered in Rüsselheim. In 1862, entrepreneur Adam Opel founds a factory for the production of sewing machines. In 1886, the company mastered the production of bicycles. In 1898, Opel signs a contract with engineer Friedrich Lutzmann to create the Opel-Lutzmann car, the production of which began a year later. But this partnership fell apart in 1900. Two years later, Opel creates with the Frenchman Alexandre Darrac its first 10/12 PS car with a 2-cylinder engine capable of accelerating the car to 45 km/h.

With the introduction of the more comfortable 35/40 PS model, Opel becomes known in Germany. In 1906, the 1000th Opel car was assembled, and by 1912, 12 thousand cars had already been produced. In 1924, Opel invests heavily in the development of new models and the improvement of production. For the production of cars of the brand, assembly lines were created.

In 1929, General Motors acquired an 80% stake in Opel. The year 1940 was marked by the millionth car. In 1956, the company produces the two millionth Opel. In 1972, Opel wins 20% of the market and becomes the largest automobile manufacturer in Germany. In 1981, the company was the first to use environmentally friendly paints for body parts. A year later, at the new plant built in Spain, the production of the Opel Corsa model begins, which has become the most compact of all cars produced by the company.

In 1983, the 20 millionth car rolled off the assembly line. In 1985, all models of the company begin to be equipped with catalytic converters. Released in 1986, Opel Omega received the title of “Car of the Year”. In 1989, the company releases the 25 millionth model, which becomes the Omega Caravan.

In 1990, the company launched the Calibra sports coupe based on the Vectra platform. In 1995, the company was the first in Germany to start producing cars at its plant in Poland. In 1997, the 10th anniversary of the partnership with the Italians is celebrated, when the 105,000th Opel car rolls off the assembly line in the city of Bertone. In 1999, the leadership of Germany – Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Prime Minister Hans Eichel celebrate the round date “100 Years of Opel Automobiles” with the leadership of Adam Opel AG.

In 2002, the company announces that within five years it will produce two new models of passenger cars a year. In 2006, the Antara crossover appears, a year later the production of the new Insignia model family was launched. In 2010, the brand’s first electric hybrid, the Opel Ampera, was released. 2017 was a turning point for the German brand. The French alliance PSA acquires a controlling stake in Opel from GM and becomes its owner.