GM Opens New Opel Factory

FOR RELEASE: January 9, 2002

Production Starts up at New Opel facility in Rüsselsheim

Investment totals nearly three-quarters of a billion Euro

Rüsselsheim- Production at Opel´s new facility in Rüsselsheim, currently the most modern passenger car plant in the world and the site where the newly developed Vectra is being built, got off to a good start on Monday. Opel has invested some three-quarters of a billion Euro in the new facility which, following completion of its final expansion phase, will have the capacity to produce 270,000 units of up to four different models annually in a three-shift, flexible line system.

Current plans call for a gradual increase in production rates on a two-shift schedule in 2002 with a goal of achieving the highest quality possible rather than the highest volumes, noted Plant Director Arno Wiedenroth. "We´ve set the bar higher then ever before for a car coming out of Rüsselsheim," he said.

The Vectra sedan will be the first model coming off the assembly line, followed in the summer by the Vectra GTS sport sedan. Early in 2003 and in the fall next year, respectively, the Vectra Signum - an entirely new concept in automobile design - and the Vectra station wagon, will complete the line-up. In addition, the plant will also serve as the assembly site for the Omega´s successor. Until further notice, the current Omega sedan and wagon will be produced at the previously existing plant.

Opel´s chief executive Carl-Peter Forster said the state-of-the art Rüsselsheim plant will set new standards for productivity, quality and versatility. "Here in Rüsselsheim we´ve created the perquisites needed for the new Vectra to take a leading position in the international marketplace. We will also be securing some 6000 automobile and component manufacturing jobs for the long term at the site where Opel´s car production began," he also said.