Opel has been producing automobiles for 125 years. 125 years in which the brand has made millions of people mobile and inspired them with many innovations. Opel is celebrating this on Saturday, June 8th, with an open day at its headquarters in Rüsselsheim. In keeping with the anniversary motto “Forever forward since 1899”, customers, employees and the general public as well as guests of honor from politics and parent company Stellantis can discover automotive milestones from Opel’s history.
For example, visitors can look behind the scenes on the factory tour or experience the Opel feeling up close on a motorsport test drive. The “125 years of automobile manufacturing at Opel” is not the only anniversary being celebrated these days: in 1964 – exactly 60 years ago – the “Opel Design Studio” began its work as the first design center of a manufacturer in Europe. And so, on Saturday, visitors can also admire icons of automotive design from six decades. Those not able to attend in person can see the highlights on Facebook.
“We want to celebrate this anniversary with our visitors and show how Opel has always helped shape the constant change in the automotive industry and is now positioned for the future.”
– Opel CEO Florian Huettl –
Icon: Created in the Opel Design Studio the Experimental GT celebrated its premiere in 1965.
Bold vision: The 2018 GT X Experimental – gave a preview of the Mokka.
The best of two worlds: The reinvented, all-electric Manta GSe.
Opel will open its doors to the public at 10:30 a.m. during the official ceremony with invited guests in the Adam Opel House. Visitors will then be able to take a first look at the design exhibition in building N10. The journey through the decades of design extends from the 1965 Experimental GT and groundbreaking Opel studies from the 1980s, to innovative concepts from the more recent past such as the GT X Experimental, the sensational Manta GSe and the visionary Opel Experimental.
Two public premieres
The pop-up exhibition in the building N50, bathed in a variety of colors, also opens at 11:30 a.m. Here, visitors can view exhibits from the first Opel – the Opel-Patent-Motorwagen System Lutzmann – to bestsellers and legends such as the Opel Kapitan, GT, Manta and Calibra, and even electric models such as the Opel Ampera. On plant tours beginning at 1:30 p.m., which start behind the Adam Opel House throughout the afternoon, Opel will proudly present the current Astra production at the Rüsselsheim site. In addition, the general public can experience the all-new Opel Frontera and Opel Grandland, which will soon be available to order, up close for the first time.
Premiere I: After celebrating its world premiere in Istanbul a few days ago, visitors can experience the new Frontera live on Saturday.
Premiere II: The new Grandland SUV will also be on show for the first time at the “Open Day”.
The first Opel: The Lutzmann is one of the stars of the pop-up exhibition.
Opel’s smallest: The Rocks Electric can be driven from the age of 15.
Rüsselsheim born and bred: See how the Astra is produced at the brand’s HQ.
From midday onwards, the Opel Corsa Rally Electric from the world’s first electric one-make rally cup will be doing laps in the car park behind the Adam Opel House. A limited number of motorsport fans can sign up for a ride in the co-driver’s seat. Nearby, on another test track special set up by Opel, visitors aged 15 and over can experience for themselves what individual mobility feels like behind the wheel of an Opel Rocks Electric.
Competition: Experience electrifying rally sport
We are giving away two rides in the Opel Corsa Rally Electric, the vehicle in the world’s first electric rally one-make cup, to readers of the Opel Post who will attend the event on Saturday. Taking part is easy: Simply send an email to opel.post@stellantis.com by Thursday, 3:00 p.m. CEST with the subject “I would like to experience a lap in the Opel Corsa Rally Electric”. The two winners will be drawn from all entries and informed by email on Friday.
The youngest visitors will find plenty of entertainment in the “Kids Corner”, which is located in the immediate vicinity of the large catering area, also behind the Adam Opel House. There are numerous other activities for young and old throughout the outdoor area.
Be part of the exhibition
As an additional attraction, an area reserved exclusively for Opel vintage cars opposite the Adam Opel House on Rugbyring will enrich the anniversary celebrations. Visitors and guests who arrive in a vintage Opel vehicle with an H license plate can park their car in the “An der Feuerwache” parking lot, turning the area into a spontaneous open-air pop-up exhibition of historic Opel cars.
Registration for the various activities takes place on site; advance reservations are not possible. The detailed program including additional information can be found here.
June 2024
Photos: Opel