Allemagne
Opel
Opel is a German automaker founded on January 21, 1862 in Rüsselsheim am Main, in Hesse, by Adam Opel. In its early days, the company did not build automobiles but sewing machines, then moved into bicycles starting in 1886. By the 1920s, Opel had become the world's largest bicycle manufacturer. The decisive step came in 1899, when Adam Opel's sons bought Friedrich Lutzmann's car factory in Dessau and launched production of the "Patent-Motorwagen System Lutzmann" in Rüsselsheim. The brand quickly established itself as a builder of affordable cars accessible to the broadest possible public, a mass-market vocation it would maintain for the long term. In 1929, the American giant General Motors took a majority stake in Opel, then acquired the automaker outright in 1931, integrating it into its global network for nearly ninety years. In 1936, Opel made history by launching the Kadett, the first truly affordable family compact produced by a German automaker. After the Second World War, Opel rebuilt itself and became one of the pillars of the European auto industry with models such as the Rekord, the Kadett, and later the Astra and the Corsa. In March 2017, GM sold Opel and its British sister brand Vauxhall to the French group PSA (Peugeot-Citroën) for approximately 2.2 billion US dollars; the transaction was finalized in August 2017. Under PSA, Opel returned to profitability as early as 2018-2019 after many years of losses. In January 2021, PSA merged with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to form Stellantis, one of the largest automotive groups in the world, of which Opel is now a part. In North America, Opel was sold directly through the Buick network in the 1960s and 1970s, before GM ended this distribution in 1975. Subsequently, many Opel models were rebadged and sold in the United States and Canada under the Saturn, Buick, and Cadillac brands.
ActivePerformanceÉlectrique / hybrideCamion / utilitairePopulairesAllemandes
History
History of Opel
Opel is a German automaker founded on January 21, 1862 in Rüsselsheim am Main, in Hesse, by Adam Opel. In its early days, the company did not build automobiles but sewing machines, then moved into bicycles starting in 1886. By the 1920s, Opel had become the world's largest bicycle manufacturer. The decisive step came in 1899, when Adam Opel's sons bought Friedrich Lutzmann's car factory in Dessau and launched production of the "Patent-Motorwagen System Lutzmann" in Rüsselsheim. The brand quickly established itself as a builder of affordable cars accessible to the broadest possible public, a mass-market vocation it would maintain for the long term. In 1929, the American giant General Motors took a majority stake in Opel, then acquired the automaker outright in 1931, integrating it into its global network for nearly ninety years. In 1936, Opel made history by launching the Kadett, the first truly affordable family compact produced by a German automaker. After the Second World War, Opel rebuilt itself and became one of the pillars of the European auto industry with models such as the Rekord, the Kadett, and later the Astra and the Corsa. In March 2017, GM sold Opel and its British sister brand Vauxhall to the French group PSA (Peugeot-Citroën) for approximately 2.2 billion US dollars; the transaction was finalized in August 2017. Under PSA, Opel returned to profitability as early as 2018-2019 after many years of losses. In January 2021, PSA merged with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to form Stellantis, one of the largest automotive groups in the world, of which Opel is now a part. In North America, Opel was sold directly through the Buick network in the 1960s and 1970s, before GM ended this distribution in 1975. Subsequently, many Opel models were rebadged and sold in the United States and Canada under the Saturn, Buick, and Cadillac brands.
Public founding or origin of Opel.
Astra: launch or first listed period.
Corsa: launch or first listed period.
Insignia: launch or first listed period.
Kadett: launch or first listed period.
Mokka: launch or first listed period.
Technologies
Technologies, innovations and platforms
Under the Stellantis era, Opel shares the group's platforms, notably the versatile architecture derived from PSA (the EMP2 and CMP/e-CMP types) that allows a single model to be offered in gasoline, diesel, plug-in hybrid, and 100% electric versions. The brand offers three- and four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engines, diesel units, plug-in hybrids, and electric powertrains (Corsa Electric, Mokka Electric, Astra Electric). Opel is aiming for a fully electrified lineup in Europe. On the safety and driver-assistance side, recent models feature automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, traffic-sign recognition, and IntelliLux LED matrix lighting systems. The "Vizor" design and the "Pure Panel" cabin define the brand's new technological identity.
Brand image
Identity, reputation, strengths and weaknesses
Positioning
Opel is a German, mainstream, accessible and practical automobile brand, now part of the Stellantis group.
Reputation
Opel enjoys a reputation as an accessible, practical brand offering good value for money in the European market. Its reliability is considered decent and improving: recent models sharing Stellantis technology (Grandland, Crossland, Mokka) achieve good results in ADAC and TÜV surveys, even though some older generations received mixed scores in satisfaction polls. Resale value remains average, typical of a mainstream brand, and depends heavily on maintenance and the engine choice. Overall, Opel is seen as a serious brand, without marked prestige but offering safe and economical vehicles to run.
Strengths
Opel offers practical, well-equipped vehicles at competitive prices, with a long tradition of popular compacts and city cars (Corsa, Astra). Membership in Stellantis provides access to modern platforms, full electrification, and recent driver-assistance technologies. The design is understated and well executed, the ergonomics are refined, and the cost of ownership is generally well controlled.
Points to watch
Opel suffers from a less prestigious brand image than its premium German compatriots and from an almost nonexistent presence in North America, which makes access to parts and service difficult outside Europe. Some older generations experienced reliability issues and marked depreciation. The heavy parts-sharing across Stellantis reduces technical differentiation compared with Peugeot or Citroën.
Models
Opel models
Current or active models by market
Notable past models
Production and compatibility
Plants, tires and wheels
Production
Opel's historical and industrial heart remains the Rüsselsheim am Main plant in Germany, which also houses the brand's headquarters and development center. Opel operates other production sites in Europe, notably Eisenach (Germany) and Zaragoza (Spain), as well as powertrain plants such as Kaiserslautern. The British sister brand Vauxhall produces vehicles at Ellesmere Port (United Kingdom). In North America, Opel currently has no plant or sales network under its own name; the market is served indirectly by rebadged models (historically Saturn, Buick, Cadillac), often assembled in Mexico or elsewhere by General Motors when the automaker still belonged to the American group.
Tires and wheels
In Quebec, Opels are rare since the brand is no longer distributed here, but rebadged models (the Buick Encore, formerly the Mokka; the Buick Regal, formerly the Insignia; the Saturn Astra) are still on the road. City cars such as the Corsa typically use small wheel diameters (15 to 17 inches), while the Astra compacts and Insignia sedans tend to run around 16 to 18 inches, or even more in sporty trims. Common bolt patterns sit around five lugs (for example 5x115 or 5x120 depending on the model). As with any vehicle driven in Quebec, a second set of approved winter tires is essential and mandatory in season; always check the vehicle's exact bolt pattern, offset, and center bore before purchasing.