e s would have been too nice, if it had simply remained quiet for a while at the Opel plant in Rüsselsheim. But hardly was it in the past week in the three-week plant holidays, emerged a long-believed history back from the sinking: The company should state within two weeks to the charge that the exhaust aftertreatment in some diesel vehicles while driving out technically incomprehensible reasons shuts off. The Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt has found appropriate evidence, reported the “Bild am Sonntag”.
This message hits Opel in a time of heightened uncertainty. Because even if the collective agreement on conditions of downsizing and investment for a few days under the roof, the dispute over the future of the development center remains at the headquarters, which is considered the heart of Opel.
Well over 30,000 vehicles converted
The Rüsselsheimer react buttoned on the diesel allegations. So far, they have kept quietly in the background in the scandal that has cost the German auto industry a lot of credibility. Unlike VW and Audi for example, the brand could be detected with the flash no cheating on software in the exhaust system. Opel had already in September 2015, so shortly after the discovery of the diesel scandal, claims to have installed any illegal defeat devices. In June 2016, the company then called around 90,000 diesel of the types Cascada , Insignia and Zafira for a software update in the workshops.
This ongoing action is apostrophized as a voluntary. It is intended to significantly reduce nitrogen emissions in each case. As can be heard, Opel has so far provided more than 30,000 vehicles with the new software. The car then consumed neither more diesel, nor would it slower or louder. However, the consumption of Adblue increases. This addition of urea to the fuel splits nitrogen oxide in exhaust gases into nitrogen and hydrogen and thus reduces the pollutant emissions.
So far no formal recall
After the software update, the emissions should be as low as in the new engines installed since 2016. The Federal Motor Transport Authority approved these diesel engines just two years ago, in time for the production launch of the family van Zafira in Ruesselsheim. Unlike the old technology, the exhaust gas purification works thanks to a new control not only at an outdoor temperature of 17 to 33 degrees, but from minus eight to 50 degrees, it said at that time.
Against this background, it can be assumed that the allegations now being made relate to the 60,000 cars of the types Cascada, Insignia and Zafira that have not yet been retrofitted. If the Federal Office and the higher Ministry are not satisfied with Opel’s statements, the voluntary software update could lead to a formal recall. So far, Audi, among others, had to VW and call Daimler back.
Is the work enough for all developers?
For the future of the German daughter of the French Peugeot mother PSA but much more important than the diesel dispute is the topic of development center. The look at the figures reveals that: Working in the production plant around 3,000 men and women, the development center last counted about 7,500 employees. How many will be after the job cuts, Opel reserves for itself. One thing is clear: the engineers working there are responsible for 15 competence centers. They will work for the entire PSA group and will for example look at novel fuels, belts and fuel cell drives as an alternative to the battery for electric cars. In addition, they are developing a new generation of gasoline engines for PSA. Nevertheless, the answer to the question is whether all these tasks are enough to employ a good 7000 engineers there.
Against this background, the Opel and PSA management are looking for a strategic partner for the heart of the brand with the flash. A partial sale of the work is considered possible. The works council rejects such plans. Whether the management is impressed by that is another matter. In all experience, there will not be a quick answer, because a partnership or a partial sale will not be sealed overnight. Therefore, the uncertainty after the plant holidays remains for Opel employees.
After all, there is good news from Opel: Unlike the market leader from Wolfsburg, who did not comply with the certification according to the new exhaust gas test standard, the Südhessen had to stop any production lines. “Opel has no delays in the ongoing type-approval process. The team has worked hard over the past few months to solve all the technical challenges, “a spokesperson said.