Opel CEO: Slump Will Not Halt Electric Drive

The uncertainty in the market for electric cars will not sustainably slow down the technology from the perspective of Opel CEO Florian Huettl. The fact that the Federal Government let the subsidy for electric cars expire at the end of December and that there is still no follow-up regulation "can extend the path to electromobility," Huettl said on Tuesday in Eisenach to the German Press Agency. "But it will not stop it." Opel also currently notices a reluctance to buy, he added.

Opel wants to offer only electric cars in Europe from 2028. Huettl said on Tuesday: "We are clearly sticking to our plan, also regarding the speed. We can only make it dependent on politics to a certain extent." However, it makes sense if governments stimulate the ramp-up phase for a limited time. In France, for example, a subsidy program for e-car leasing is being well utilized.

Huettl reaffirmed Opel's goal to offer an electric car for 25,000 euros in the coming years. With regard to the price difference between combustion engines and electric cars, he said:

"The next generation of battery-electric platforms will allow us to achieve this price parity."

Opel unveiled a fully electric version of the SUV Grandland for the first time at its plant in Eisenach on Tuesday. The manufacturing of a car in Germany is associated with cost challenges, Huettl further stated.

"Of course, it is easier to absorb the costs in a higher-segment car like the Grandland. In the small car segment, this is already significantly more difficult due to the competitive situation." The production of a small car like the Corsa in Germany is "unthinkable today." 

Made in Germany: 130 Million Euros for Conversion to "E-Werk"

The completely redesigned Grandland will roll off the assembly line not only with hybrid drives but also for the first time as a battery-electric, locally emissions-free Grandland Electric. As the first model series from the German manufacturer, the new SUV generation is based on the STLA Medium platform, which is specifically designed for battery-electric models and is now being utilized in Eisenach. Thanks to the new architecture, an especially flat battery packaging with a battery capacity of up to 98 kWh, a new generation electric motor, and other energy-saving features, the new Grandland Electric can travel up to approximately 700 kilometers locally emissions-free according to WLTP.

Flexible Production on the Assembly Line

To prepare the Eisenach plant, which has continually evolved since its inception in 1992, for the future production of electrified models, the company has invested 130 million Euros in the facility. Significant changes have been made in manufacturing. For example, modifications were carried out in the body shop as well as in the finishing and final assembly areas, enabling the production of vehicles based on both the Multi Energy platform and the STLA Medium platform. Additionally, the entire conveyor systems were adapted and reinforced, the body shop was fully automated, and many state-of-the-art camera systems were installed in various areas for detailed inspection.