Opel in Eisenach
The Grandland X is produced far below schedule.
Munich OpelChief Michael Lohscheller was full of praise. “What happened here in the last ten weeks is really remarkable,” the manager complimented his team at the end of August at the start of production of the city SUV Grandland X,
Dozens of fitters and engineers had come to the production line in the presence of guests of honor such as Thuringia’s Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (The Left) OpelPlant in Eisenach and listened to the words of their CEO.
He thanked his troupe several times. After all, the 1,400 employees would have “converted the traditional factory into the future”, according to Lohscheller.
After more than two decades, the last Corsa in Eisenach ran off the line in May 2019. And only one summer changeover time later you could already admire the first Grandland X “Made in Germany”.
“That’s a world record performance,” stated Lohscheller. One would have to imagine that: away from small cars to SUVs. “Really something historical,” the frontman of the brand rejoiced with the flash: “We can be so proud of it.”
Opel specialists in Eisenach are hearing quite different sounds today. If it goes to the factory management, they should work more, ideally every Saturday still a late shift drive.
The reason: Opel has started the series production of the Grandland X in Thuringia messed up. Instead of 220 cars per shift currently run only about 90 cars off the line, the Handelsblatt learned from group circles.
The result: Compared to the originally planned start-up curve, the Grandland X in Eisenach is already below plan with more than 4000 units. Internally, there is talk of a “blatant bad planning”. A company spokesperson explains: “There is no difficulty in producing the Grandland X to meet our customers’ expectations.” That’s right, customers are likely to notice nothing of the plight. But only because Opel still manufactures the Grandland X at two locations.
Old machines, vulnerable IT
At the beginning of 2020, however, production of the model in Sochaux, France, should be phased out. By then, the processes in Eisenach must be right. The bumpy start of the Grand Land X in Thuringia does not bode well, it is rather embarrassing and alarming at the same time. Because the SUV is not just any model for Opel, but de facto the brand’s new flagship. Because the sales of the sedan Insignia slump drastically, the Grandland X must provide the necessary quantities and contribution margins.
The model is being built in Germany for the first time on the flexible EMP2 platform of the Opel parent company PSA (Peugeot, Citroën, DS). For example, diesel, gasoline and electric variants such as plug-in hybrids can be produced on a production line – depending on which type of drive customers are currently ordering. “Highly intelligent,” Lohscheller calls this approach. At the same time, the method is complex and requires state-of-the-art technology.
“PSA was of the opinion, with very little money, to be able to produce a lot,” it says in Opel Group circles. This bill did not work. The mechanics have been given some 20-year-old machines. In addition it hangs in the IT, in the course of the new platform completely on one PSASystem had to be changed.
Now expensive rework could be due in Eisenach. Employee representatives are pushing management to invest in better machinery, according to group sources. The plant management on the other hand blames the Opel plant builders. These would have to get the required quality standards – with the existing technology. An insider describes the mood in the factory as “emotional” – to say the least.