Opel Sketch
The carmaker is thinning out its design division.
(Photo: Opel)
Munich Opel has been part of the French carmaker since 2017 PSA (Peugeot, Citroën, DS), but the brand with the flash emphasizes its independence at every opportunity. “In Rüsselsheim, all future Opel-Models designed and developed, “stated Opel boss Michael Lohscheller at an event around the end of 2018.
Although the Hessian cars are now on PSAPlatforms leave the assembly line, according to Lohscheller, Opel will be “more German than ever”. In order to achieve this, the manager tries to differentiate the traditional domestic brand from the French sister brands as clearly as possible – above all with an “exciting design”. As a result, the department of Opels design chief Mark Adams enjoyed a lot of freedom until recently. While hundreds of jobs were cut in Rüsselsheim’s vehicle production, parts warehouse, forge or tool shop, the designers were largely spared personnel cuts. Until now.
Because at an internal event last Friday, Adams announced to his team that 40 percent of his people would not have enough work in the future, the Handelsblatt learned from corporate circles. Opel now wants to get rid of around 160 design employees through voluntary measures such as partial retirement, early retirement or severance payments.
An Opel spokesman said that, in principle, the job cuts agreed with the works council would only be achieved through voluntary measures and for all employees in Germany protection against dismissal had been extended to 2025. Opel did not want to comment in detail on job cuts in the design area.
Fewer vehicles means less work
Internally, the announcement causes irritation, it is said in corporate circles. After all, design and interior are becoming increasingly important in the emerging electric age. Because with the drive, the vehicle manufacturers can hardly differentiate from each other in Stromers. In addition, only three years ago Opel elaborately expanded its design center at its headquarters to include the latest visualization and communication technology for eleven million euros.
But it is also clear that Opel has drastically reduced its model range under the PSA umbrella. The small cars Karl and Adam were sorted out as well as the Cabrio Cascada. Fewer vehicles automatically means less work for the designers. Last week Opel announced want to cut back up to 4100 jobs at the German locations in Rüsselsheim, Kaiserslautern and Eisenach by the end of the decade, It was not explained in which areas the car maker wants to cut back on voluntary measures. Now it is clear: in addition to the fitters in production, it also affects the designers.
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