The auto company Stellantis (Peugeot, Fiat, Chrysler) is considering its German daughter Opel to withdraw responsibility for two important works. In order to further strengthen cooperation and greater flexibility within the group, the company announced on Thursday that it was considering developing the Rüsselsheim and Eisenach production facilities into their own legal and production organizations. In the long term, this should help to secure jobs. Previously had the “Handelsblatt” reported on the considerations.
Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares (63) wanted to take the step to achieve more penetration of the entire production network in the group with a total of 14 brands in order to improve the capacity utilization of the individual plants, the newspaper reported. The outsourcing could also aim to reduce the influence of the trade unions. “Opel is being dismembered,” the paper quoted an insider as saying.
An Opel spokesman emphasized that the working conditions should remain unchanged for all employees, the existing collective agreements and works agreements should continue to apply. “We now want to talk to the social partner about the precise details.” The Opel plant at the former Wartburg site in Eisenach was independent after the fall of the Wall until the end of 2013. Rüsselsheim, on the other hand, is Opel’s main plant. Adam Opel founded the sewing machine production there in 1862 in his father’s locksmith’s workshop, which later became a bicycle and then a car factory.
For the factory in Thuringia, Opel recently announced short-time work until the end of the year due to the chip crisis. The company also announced a specific date for the restart. The move has met with criticism from the union and Thuringia’s Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow. Opel settled its problems at the taxpayer’s expense, said Ramelow last.
Opel produces the Grandland SUV in Eisenach. During the shutdown, the production of the vehicle is to be temporarily outsourced to Sochaux, France. This has met with criticism from the workforce. “With Stellantis’ vague statements the employees and we works councils have nothing to do with”, explained the Eisenach works council chief Bernd Lösche.