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Difference between revisions of "Opel"
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More recently, Opel began to take responsibility for the R&D of Saab cars and [[Saab]] cars tend to be based on Opel platforms. Some American GM cars are on Opel platforms, too, and the [[Saturn]] brand now sells largely Opel products. Cooperation with [[Daewoo]] of Korea will see Opel ideas in the Corsa E, arguably making Opel the most globally influential of GM’s various divisions.
 
More recently, Opel began to take responsibility for the R&D of Saab cars and [[Saab]] cars tend to be based on Opel platforms. Some American GM cars are on Opel platforms, too, and the [[Saturn]] brand now sells largely Opel products. Cooperation with [[Daewoo]] of Korea will see Opel ideas in the Corsa E, arguably making Opel the most globally influential of GM’s various divisions.
  
With GM bankrupt in 2009 and coming under US governmental control, the company looked for ways to dispose of its divisions, Opel being one. Political manœuvring by the German government, unions and GM meant that Magna, the Canadian car parts’ supplier, became the favoured bidder, with the purchase likely to go ahead before the close of the year. However, ongoing contracts mean that the GM–Opel link will not be completely severed.
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With GM bankrupt in 2009 and coming under US governmental control, the company looked for ways to dispose of its divisions, Opel being one. But by the end of the year, GM had had a change of heart, realizing the strategic importance of the company.
  
  
 
[[Category:Marques]]
 
[[Category:Marques]]

Revision as of 12:29, 5 November 2009

Opel was founded in 1862 at Rüsselsheim to manufacture sewing machines. It branched out into bicycles in 1886 and cars in 1899. Cooperation with Darracq in 1901 saw more cars turned out, but it was 1902 when the Opel brothers—the founder’s sons—went it alone. Its first popular model, colloquially known as the ‘Doctor’s Car’, was produced in 1909.

Opel was forced to depart from the sewing machine business after a fire, and financial difficulties as a result of the German economic crisis closed the company in 1923. After installing a production line, Opel reopened the following year. It went public in 1928, with General Motors purchasing 80 per cent in 1929. Total ownership followed in 1931.

Opel abandoned its bicycle business in 1937, and during World War II the plant was converted to military use. Allied bombing destroyed more than half of the factory, but within two years after the war, Opel was back.

Its models tended to be more advanced than those of its other European GM counterpart, Vauxhall, and by the 1970s Opel was given the responsibility for all Opel and Vauxhall models. It had already proved itself designing the T-car, the world car that was built on most continents by various marques ranging from Saehan and Isuzu to Holden and Chevrolet, and which was made by Opel itself as the Kadett.

More recently, Opel began to take responsibility for the R&D of Saab cars and Saab cars tend to be based on Opel platforms. Some American GM cars are on Opel platforms, too, and the Saturn brand now sells largely Opel products. Cooperation with Daewoo of Korea will see Opel ideas in the Corsa E, arguably making Opel the most globally influential of GM’s various divisions.

With GM bankrupt in 2009 and coming under US governmental control, the company looked for ways to dispose of its divisions, Opel being one. But by the end of the year, GM had had a change of heart, realizing the strategic importance of the company.

 

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