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Ford's operations in Europe books a 351€ billion loss for 2018 in contrast to a 324€ billion profit the year prior. Already in the midst of a major restructuring, Ford has now announced job cuts in Germany and the UK. Ford employs roughly 24,000 people in Germany with expectations to lower that by 5,000 to 19,000 total. Most of the cuts are expected to come from voluntary redundancies and early retirement. Ford aims to make the cuts "in the most socially responsible way possible." In addition to the German job loses, another 1,150 employees will lose their positions in the UK. Ford has already shuttered an assembly plant in France and cut its vehicle lineup. Ford's moves follow that of Honda which is closing its plant in Swindon, Nissan which is reducing output in Sunderland, Infiniti leaving Western Europe and Volkswagen laying off 7,000 workers. -
Ford's operations in Europe books a 351€ billion loss for 2018 in contrast to a 324€ billion profit the year prior. Already in the midst of a major restructuring, Ford has now announced job cuts in Germany and the UK. Ford employs roughly 24,000 people in Germany with expectations to lower that by 5,000 to 19,000 total. Most of the cuts are expected to come from voluntary redundancies and early retirement. Ford aims to make the cuts "in the most socially responsible way possible." In addition to the German job loses, another 1,150 employees will lose their positions in the UK. Ford has already shuttered an assembly plant in France and cut its vehicle lineup. Ford's moves follow that of Honda which is closing its plant in Swindon, Nissan which is reducing output in Sunderland, Infiniti leaving Western Europe and Volkswagen laying off 7,000 workers. View full article
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Audi finds itself in hot water once again with Germany's federal transport authority over illegal emission software fitted to TDI vehicles. According to Reuters, the KBA has found illegal emission-control software in Audi’s latest Euro-6 diesel engines. The authority has ordered Audi to recall 127,000 vehicles fitted with these engines (the majority in Germany) or face punishment which may include the withdrawal of an approval for the new A8. In a statement sent to Reuters, Audi said the vehicles were part of "a voluntary recall of 850,000 diesel vehicles with V6 and V8 TDI engines" back in July. “The engine control software for the vehicles in question will be completely revised, tested and submitted to the KBA for approval,” the company said in the statement. Audi did not comment further on the KBA's request. Source: Motor1, Reuters View full article -
Audi finds itself in hot water once again with Germany's federal transport authority over illegal emission software fitted to TDI vehicles. According to Reuters, the KBA has found illegal emission-control software in Audi’s latest Euro-6 diesel engines. The authority has ordered Audi to recall 127,000 vehicles fitted with these engines (the majority in Germany) or face punishment which may include the withdrawal of an approval for the new A8. In a statement sent to Reuters, Audi said the vehicles were part of "a voluntary recall of 850,000 diesel vehicles with V6 and V8 TDI engines" back in July. “The engine control software for the vehicles in question will be completely revised, tested and submitted to the KBA for approval,” the company said in the statement. Audi did not comment further on the KBA's request. Source: Motor1, Reuters -
Reuters Story - Hamburg Germany Diesel ban Seems that Hamburg has taken it upon themselves to address cleaner air, reduced acid rain and better quality of life by banning ALL DIESEL Auto's that DO NOT meet the Euro 6 diesel certification from their streets. With the Euro courts having ruled that cities do have the rights to ban polluting dirty auto's, Hamburg went to work on creating new signage and for the last few days been putting up the new signage as the ban goes into effect Monday May 28th. This has even bigger implications as Hamburg has asked the courts to rule in regards to allowing cities to ban all auto's that do not meet the Euro 6 standard from their streets. If the courts rule against the Euro 6 standard for ALL AUTO's, Hamburg is willing to drop back to Euro 5 standard from 2009 as the new default minimal emission standard. Even with a new Diesels must meet Euro 6 and all other auto's must meet Euro 5 standard of emissions for being allowed on the streets around Hamburg, this could have huge implications for classic auto's and especially older commercial trucks that pollute much more. From Paris to Mexico City to Athens, cities are watching this unfold in planning their own rules to remove polluting auto's from the roads around the planet. Nitrogen Oxide is known to cause respiratory disease especially in untreated diesel auto's or those using cheat software that would negate a emission cleaning system. How does this affect the auto's in Hamburg Germany? Currently there are 330,000 registered diesel auto's and only 116,000 meet the Euro 6 standard. This means 214,000 auto's come Monday will no longer be able to be driven in Hamburg. Police will do a random check and fine drivers $25 euro's ($30 US) and commercial trucks $75 Euros ($90 US) for violating the rules.
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Germany's High Court Rules Cities Can Ban Older Diesels
William Maley posted an article in Automotive Industry
Germany's highest court, the Federal Administrative Court ruled today that cities can ban older diesel vehicles to help cut pollution. According to Reuters, the case was brought to the Federal Administrative Court after local courts ordered the Düsseldorf and Stuttgart governments to ban older diesel vehicles. The states disagreed with this decision and appealed it to the highest court. Originally, the Federal Administrative Court was expected to rule on the case last week, but it was pushed back. In the ruling, the court said the two cities should introduce the bans gradually and exemptions can be made for certain types of vehicles like ambulances. “It will not be easy to implement,” said Fritz Kuhn, mayor of Stuttgart during a press conference. Kuhn added that it would likely take six months for the regional government to agree on a plan. The decision was welcomed by environmental groups. “It’s a great day for clean air in Germany,” said Jürgen Resch of the environmental group DUH. But a number of politicians and business lobbies disagree with the decision, saying it could deprive a number of drivers across the country, many who might not be able to replace them. “The court has not issued any driving bans but created clarity about the law. Driving bans can be avoided, and my goal is and will remain that they do not come into force,” said Germany's environment minister, Barbara Hendricks. Hendricks told Reuters that she hopes cities are able to find other ways to improve air quality. One example she brought up is to retrofit exhaust treatment systems to older diesel vehicles. As to who would pay for it, Hendricks said it should be the automakers since they sold the vehicles in the first place. German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed the bans were localized and wouldn't affect most drivers in the country. The ban could cause German automakers a number of headaches as it would likely cause sales of diesel vehicles to drop even further, along with decreasing the resale value of them. Source: Reuters, (2), The Guardian -
Germany's highest court, the Federal Administrative Court ruled today that cities can ban older diesel vehicles to help cut pollution. According to Reuters, the case was brought to the Federal Administrative Court after local courts ordered the Düsseldorf and Stuttgart governments to ban older diesel vehicles. The states disagreed with this decision and appealed it to the highest court. Originally, the Federal Administrative Court was expected to rule on the case last week, but it was pushed back. In the ruling, the court said the two cities should introduce the bans gradually and exemptions can be made for certain types of vehicles like ambulances. “It will not be easy to implement,” said Fritz Kuhn, mayor of Stuttgart during a press conference. Kuhn added that it would likely take six months for the regional government to agree on a plan. The decision was welcomed by environmental groups. “It’s a great day for clean air in Germany,” said Jürgen Resch of the environmental group DUH. But a number of politicians and business lobbies disagree with the decision, saying it could deprive a number of drivers across the country, many who might not be able to replace them. “The court has not issued any driving bans but created clarity about the law. Driving bans can be avoided, and my goal is and will remain that they do not come into force,” said Germany's environment minister, Barbara Hendricks. Hendricks told Reuters that she hopes cities are able to find other ways to improve air quality. One example she brought up is to retrofit exhaust treatment systems to older diesel vehicles. As to who would pay for it, Hendricks said it should be the automakers since they sold the vehicles in the first place. German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed the bans were localized and wouldn't affect most drivers in the country. The ban could cause German automakers a number of headaches as it would likely cause sales of diesel vehicles to drop even further, along with decreasing the resale value of them. Source: Reuters, (2), The Guardian View full article
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Ford of Germany and StreetScooter GmbH a subsidiary of Deutsche Post, Germany's postal service, are teaming up to build 2500 electric powered Ford Transit delivery vans by the end of 2018. StreetScooter and Ford begin production next month. Production starts with a standard Ford Transit chassis and then it is fitted with a battery-electric drive train and a cargo body based on Deutsche Post's and DHL Paket's (yet another Deutsche Post subsidiary) specifications. StreetScooter already manufactures small EV vans and cycles for delivery service. No word yet on range or charge times, however the new EV Vans are intended for urban use, suggesting a limited range and charge time. Source: Ford Media, Picture courtesy of Ford -
Ford of Germany and StreetScooter GmbH a subsidiary of Deutsche Post, Germany's postal service, are teaming up to build 2500 electric powered Ford Transit delivery vans by the end of 2018. StreetScooter and Ford begin production next month. Production starts with a standard Ford Transit chassis and then it is fitted with a battery-electric drive train and a cargo body based on Deutsche Post's and DHL Paket's (yet another Deutsche Post subsidiary) specifications. StreetScooter already manufactures small EV vans and cycles for delivery service. No word yet on range or charge times, however the new EV Vans are intended for urban use, suggesting a limited range and charge time. Source: Ford Media, Picture courtesy of Ford View full article
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The diesel emission scandal has once again flared up as Audi stands accused of using illegal software on certain A7 and A8 TDI models. Yesterday, German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced that Audi employed illegal software to cheat emission tests on certain A7 and A8 models built between 2009 to 2013. The affected models are said to emit twice the legal limit of nitrogen oxides when the steering wheel is turned more than 15 degrees - a condition that would happen in the real world and not in the lab. German tabloid Bild reported that Volkswagen Group CEO Matthias Mueller was summoned to the transport ministry. A ministry spokesman confirmed Muller's visit to Reuters. The ministry has requested the company to issue a recall on the two models - 24,000 in total with 14,000 of those registered in Germany - and set a deadline for June 12 for a plan to retrofit the vehicles with legal software. Audi did issue the recall last night and said it has a fix coming in July. According to a source, the issue deals with the interaction between transmission and engine control units and that a fix has been submitted to Germany's transportation watchdog, the KBA. Source: Deutsche Welle, Reuters View full article
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As the Diesel Emits: Audi Faces Accusations On A7 and A8 TDIs Cheating
William Maley posted an article in Audi
The diesel emission scandal has once again flared up as Audi stands accused of using illegal software on certain A7 and A8 TDI models. Yesterday, German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced that Audi employed illegal software to cheat emission tests on certain A7 and A8 models built between 2009 to 2013. The affected models are said to emit twice the legal limit of nitrogen oxides when the steering wheel is turned more than 15 degrees - a condition that would happen in the real world and not in the lab. German tabloid Bild reported that Volkswagen Group CEO Matthias Mueller was summoned to the transport ministry. A ministry spokesman confirmed Muller's visit to Reuters. The ministry has requested the company to issue a recall on the two models - 24,000 in total with 14,000 of those registered in Germany - and set a deadline for June 12 for a plan to retrofit the vehicles with legal software. Audi did issue the recall last night and said it has a fix coming in July. According to a source, the issue deals with the interaction between transmission and engine control units and that a fix has been submitted to Germany's transportation watchdog, the KBA. Source: Deutsche Welle, Reuters -
Members of Germany's government have passed a resolution that could mean the end of gas and diesel vehicles. German newspaper Der Spiegel reports that the Germany's legislative body, the Bundesrat (represents all sixteen states in the country) passed a resolution to ban the sale of gas and diesel engines in 2030. After that, only zero-emission vehicles will be allowed to be built. The resolution also calls on the European Union to follow in their footsteps. But the Bundesrat doesn't have any direct authority over the EU. However, Forbes points out that Germany has the largest government and most powerful economy in the EU. This means any legislation that goes through Germany will in turn influence the EU. In the resolution, the Bundesrat requests the EU to "review the current practices of taxation and dues with regard to a stimulation of emission-free mobility." Forbes notes this would include possibly scrapping the lower taxes a number of member states employ for diesel. Higher taxes would likely cause people to avoid diesel vehicles. Source: Der Spiegel, Forbes -
Members of Germany's government have passed a resolution that could mean the end of gas and diesel vehicles. German newspaper Der Spiegel reports that the Germany's legislative body, the Bundesrat (represents all sixteen states in the country) passed a resolution to ban the sale of gas and diesel engines in 2030. After that, only zero-emission vehicles will be allowed to be built. The resolution also calls on the European Union to follow in their footsteps. But the Bundesrat doesn't have any direct authority over the EU. However, Forbes points out that Germany has the largest government and most powerful economy in the EU. This means any legislation that goes through Germany will in turn influence the EU. In the resolution, the Bundesrat requests the EU to "review the current practices of taxation and dues with regard to a stimulation of emission-free mobility." Forbes notes this would include possibly scrapping the lower taxes a number of member states employ for diesel. Higher taxes would likely cause people to avoid diesel vehicles. Source: Der Spiegel, Forbes View full article
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G. David Felt Staff Writer Alternative Energy - www.CheersandGears.com Germany's First Hydrogen Train Yesterday Germany introduced to the world the first long distant Hydrogen train, the Coradia iLint can travel 497 miles per tank load of Hydrogen fuel, carry 300 people per train. This new train is slated to start service Dec 2017 in Germany. The plan is to replace all 4,000 diesel trains that Germany says is contributing to their Acid Rain problem with clean emission free Hydrogen trains. According to the various news reports, this new breakthrough train was developed in only 2 years. The company that did the development work is Alstom of France and they are hoping to get the whole European Union to convert their rail network to this new generation of clean emission-free trains. Interior is very spacious and designed to put travelers at ease with clear vision of the outside while allowing plenty of room for packages, bags, etc.
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Fiat Chrysler Automobiles currently finds itself in hot water with the German transport ministry (KBA) for missing a meeting last week to talk about the use of software that turns off emission controls. Then word came out from the KBA that FCA declined to cooperate with the investigation, saying their vehicles meet emission standards. Because of that move, the KBA is considering banning the sale of FCA vehicles. Reuters cites a report from German newspaper Bild am Sonntag where sources said the KBA could threaten the company with a sales ban if they don't comply with emission rules. Not good news since the country is FCA's second biggest European market. How did FCA end up here? Bild am Sonntag explains that the KBA found evidence of the exhaust treatment system turning off after 22 minutes in some of FCA's models. A regular emission test takes about 20 minutes. After this news came out, shares in FCA dropped five percent in European stock trading. What happens next? Italian regulators and the European Commission will look at the data from the KBA before deciding the next move. FCA isn't the only automaker currently in hot water with the KBA. Last week, Opel met with officials to discuss software that turns off emission controls in the Zafira. Source: Reuters View full article
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Fiat Chrysler Automobiles currently finds itself in hot water with the German transport ministry (KBA) for missing a meeting last week to talk about the use of software that turns off emission controls. Then word came out from the KBA that FCA declined to cooperate with the investigation, saying their vehicles meet emission standards. Because of that move, the KBA is considering banning the sale of FCA vehicles. Reuters cites a report from German newspaper Bild am Sonntag where sources said the KBA could threaten the company with a sales ban if they don't comply with emission rules. Not good news since the country is FCA's second biggest European market. How did FCA end up here? Bild am Sonntag explains that the KBA found evidence of the exhaust treatment system turning off after 22 minutes in some of FCA's models. A regular emission test takes about 20 minutes. After this news came out, shares in FCA dropped five percent in European stock trading. What happens next? Italian regulators and the European Commission will look at the data from the KBA before deciding the next move. FCA isn't the only automaker currently in hot water with the KBA. Last week, Opel met with officials to discuss software that turns off emission controls in the Zafira. Source: Reuters -
G. David Felt Staff Writer Alternative Energy - www.CheersandGears.com $1.4 Billion incentive to go Electric Auto in Germany According to CNN Money, Germany's government has joined forces with Daimler, Volkswagen and BMW to offer up to $1.2 Billion Euros ($1.4 Billion US) as rebates to purchase electric auto's. $4,000 euros ($4,500 US) for pure EVs and $3,000 euros ($3,400 US) for Plug-in Hybrids in today's conversion of currency. Germany has announced that they are also inviting all US and Asian auto companies to take part in this rebate program to sell electric based auto's. Germany lags behind the U.K, France, Italy and Spain in electric auto sales. Currently around 50,000 EVs are on the roads in germany. This program is designed to get 400,000 electric auto sales in the near future with the goal of 1 million on the roads by 2020 and 5 million by 2030 in Germany. Experts have warned that these targets are not reachable. Yet Germany has pointed to GM and Tesla with the BOLT/VOLT and Tesla 3 as examples. This program is only available on autos costing $60,000 euros or less. This is where the German auto companies have to drive efficiency to get their basic EV below this price point. Currently German Auto companies are struggling to compete with foreign rivals in the electic car market and the German government has committed an additional $300 million euros to electrify the country's highway system for charging saying they will have 15,000 charging stations installed for quick charging in the next 36 months. Germany has also committed $100 million to ensure 20% of all government auto's are electric.
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German authorities will put Volkswagen's fixes for diesel emissions to the test. German newspaper Die Welt reports that the German Transportation Authority will take Volkswagen vehicles affected by the diesel cheating scandal and perform emission and fuel usage testing once the company begins doing the fixes. Die Welt goes on to say that the test results and raw data will be published in full to guarantee transparency. No word as to when the re-tests would be carried out. Volkswagen says vehicles in Europe only need a software upgrade and a new mesh filter to be placed in front of the vehicle's air mass sensor. Source: Reuters -
German authorities will put Volkswagen's fixes for diesel emissions to the test. German newspaper Die Welt reports that the German Transportation Authority will take Volkswagen vehicles affected by the diesel cheating scandal and perform emission and fuel usage testing once the company begins doing the fixes. Die Welt goes on to say that the test results and raw data will be published in full to guarantee transparency. No word as to when the re-tests would be carried out. Volkswagen says vehicles in Europe only need a software upgrade and a new mesh filter to be placed in front of the vehicle's air mass sensor. Source: Reuters View full article
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The Volkswagen diesel scandal has prompted the German transport minister to meet with the counterpart in the U.S. According to Reuters, Alexander Dobrindt will be holding talks today with Anthony Foxx, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation about the scandal. The report goes on to say that Dobrindt hopes to meet with officials from the EPA. That's not all that is taking place in the U.S. for Volkswagen. Another report from Reuters says the company has put plans of overhauling the management and overall strategy for the U.S. on hold till they deal with the litany of lawsuits and penalties. "What matters more than anything else right now is to sort out this disaster," a source said. "If we fail to do that, then questions that are completely different (than the future U.S. leadership) will come up," Now one of items that this decision affects is finding someone to take the place of North American head Winfried Vahland, who stepped down a few weeks after being announced to the position. Source: Reuters, 2 -
The Volkswagen diesel scandal has prompted the German transport minister to meet with the counterpart in the U.S. According to Reuters, Alexander Dobrindt will be holding talks today with Anthony Foxx, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation about the scandal. The report goes on to say that Dobrindt hopes to meet with officials from the EPA. That's not all that is taking place in the U.S. for Volkswagen. Another report from Reuters says the company has put plans of overhauling the management and overall strategy for the U.S. on hold till they deal with the litany of lawsuits and penalties. "What matters more than anything else right now is to sort out this disaster," a source said. "If we fail to do that, then questions that are completely different (than the future U.S. leadership) will come up," Now one of items that this decision affects is finding someone to take the place of North American head Winfried Vahland, who stepped down a few weeks after being announced to the position. Source: Reuters, 2 View full article
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 10, 2012 Opel announced today that it will close the Bochum plant in Germany in 2016 when production of the current Opel Zafira ends. "Despite rigorous efforts, there was no success in changing the situation. The main reasons are the dramatic declines in the European car market and the enormous overcapacity in the entire European auto industry," Opel said in a statement today. The closure is part of a long-term recovery plan called Drive Opel 2022. Under the plan, Opel will work on trying to be more cost efficient, improving the brand's image, strengthen market share, and entering new markets and segments. The plan also says by 2016, Opel will have 23 new models and 13 new engines. The closure of Bochum also means the loss of 3,300 jobs. Opel says they will preserve some jobs in its Bochum warehouse and is looking at allocating new component production to the region. Local labour leader Rainer Einenkel says the union is hopeful about trying to save Bochum. Meanwhile, the German government expects GM to provide severance packages for the workers. "It's a severe blow that affects a lot of people and their families and the Bochum region as well. The German government has the expectation that the parent company General Motors will do everything possible to find socially acceptable solutions," said Georg Streiter, spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Source: Opel, Automotive News Europe (Subscription Required) William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. Press Release is on Page 2 Opel plans to end car production in Bochum in 2016 2012-12-10 Warehouse to remain in Bochum and probably to be expanded New component production could be allocated in Bochum Initiative "Bochum Perspective 2022“ to secure existing and create new jobs Goal: No forced redundancies before run-out of current Zafira Attractive separation packages Germany stays backbone and home of Opel Announcement is part of long-term plan “Drive! 2022” Ruesselsheim. Adam Opel AG management today informed its employees that vehicle production is planned to end in Bochum at the end of the current Zafira lifecycle – expected in 2016. In June, Opel announced that no successor to the current Zafira is planned to be allocated in Bochum in view of the shrinking European car market and the overcapacities in the automotive industry. Despite intensive efforts this situation could not be changed. The warehouse in Bochum will continue to offer jobs beyond 2016 and could be expanded. Additionally, Opel is negotiating with the employee representatives to allocate a new component production in Bochum. On top of this, the working group “Bochum Perspective 2022”, which was recently established by Opel, has the objective to focus on site development, to secure existing jobs and create new ones in the City of Bochum and the entire Ruhr region. “Bochum Perspective 2022” is composed of representatives of local and regional government, along with leaders and innovators from labor, industry, academia and financial institutions located in North Rhine-Westphalia. Opel will support the initiative financially and personnel-wise. “Building on the Bochum Perspective 2022, we have a clear goal for securing a significant number of tariff-bound jobs at Adam Opel AG. They include positions in our warehouses and potentially component production. Opel takes its responsibility seriously and will implement still-necessary job reductions in the most socially responsible way. The goal of our negotiations with the works council is to refrain from forced redundancies before the run-out of the current Zafira,” said Steve Girsky, GM Vice Chairman, Chairman of the Opel Supervisory Board and Acting President of GM Europe. "Germany is our most important market and with about 20,000 employees the backbone and home of our brand. And this will stay this way in the future,” Opel Deputy CEO Dr. Thomas Sedran said. Opel also has the responsibility for its independent dealers; in North-Rhine-Westphalia alone there are 320 Opel dealers who employ about 5,300 employees. This move is part of the company’s long term plan “Drive Opel 2022” which targets break-even results by mid-decade. Opel plans to increase its revenue and variable profit significantly by more cost-efficiency, re-focusing its go-to-market strategy, improving the image of the Opel brand, strengthening the quality of market share and entering new markets and segments. From 2012 to 2016, Opel will launch 23 new models and 13 new engines in total. View full article
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 10, 2012 Opel announced today that it will close the Bochum plant in Germany in 2016 when production of the current Opel Zafira ends. "Despite rigorous efforts, there was no success in changing the situation. The main reasons are the dramatic declines in the European car market and the enormous overcapacity in the entire European auto industry," Opel said in a statement today. The closure is part of a long-term recovery plan called Drive Opel 2022. Under the plan, Opel will work on trying to be more cost efficient, improving the brand's image, strengthen market share, and entering new markets and segments. The plan also says by 2016, Opel will have 23 new models and 13 new engines. The closure of Bochum also means the loss of 3,300 jobs. Opel says they will preserve some jobs in its Bochum warehouse and is looking at allocating new component production to the region. Local labour leader Rainer Einenkel says the union is hopeful about trying to save Bochum. Meanwhile, the German government expects GM to provide severance packages for the workers. "It's a severe blow that affects a lot of people and their families and the Bochum region as well. The German government has the expectation that the parent company General Motors will do everything possible to find socially acceptable solutions," said Georg Streiter, spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Source: Opel, Automotive News Europe (Subscription Required) William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. Press Release is on Page 2 Opel plans to end car production in Bochum in 2016 2012-12-10 Warehouse to remain in Bochum and probably to be expanded New component production could be allocated in Bochum Initiative "Bochum Perspective 2022“ to secure existing and create new jobs Goal: No forced redundancies before run-out of current Zafira Attractive separation packages Germany stays backbone and home of Opel Announcement is part of long-term plan “Drive! 2022” Ruesselsheim. Adam Opel AG management today informed its employees that vehicle production is planned to end in Bochum at the end of the current Zafira lifecycle – expected in 2016. In June, Opel announced that no successor to the current Zafira is planned to be allocated in Bochum in view of the shrinking European car market and the overcapacities in the automotive industry. Despite intensive efforts this situation could not be changed. The warehouse in Bochum will continue to offer jobs beyond 2016 and could be expanded. Additionally, Opel is negotiating with the employee representatives to allocate a new component production in Bochum. On top of this, the working group “Bochum Perspective 2022”, which was recently established by Opel, has the objective to focus on site development, to secure existing jobs and create new ones in the City of Bochum and the entire Ruhr region. “Bochum Perspective 2022” is composed of representatives of local and regional government, along with leaders and innovators from labor, industry, academia and financial institutions located in North Rhine-Westphalia. Opel will support the initiative financially and personnel-wise. “Building on the Bochum Perspective 2022, we have a clear goal for securing a significant number of tariff-bound jobs at Adam Opel AG. They include positions in our warehouses and potentially component production. Opel takes its responsibility seriously and will implement still-necessary job reductions in the most socially responsible way. The goal of our negotiations with the works council is to refrain from forced redundancies before the run-out of the current Zafira,” said Steve Girsky, GM Vice Chairman, Chairman of the Opel Supervisory Board and Acting President of GM Europe. "Germany is our most important market and with about 20,000 employees the backbone and home of our brand. And this will stay this way in the future,” Opel Deputy CEO Dr. Thomas Sedran said. Opel also has the responsibility for its independent dealers; in North-Rhine-Westphalia alone there are 320 Opel dealers who employ about 5,300 employees. This move is part of the company’s long term plan “Drive Opel 2022” which targets break-even results by mid-decade. Opel plans to increase its revenue and variable profit significantly by more cost-efficiency, re-focusing its go-to-market strategy, improving the image of the Opel brand, strengthening the quality of market share and entering new markets and segments. From 2012 to 2016, Opel will launch 23 new models and 13 new engines in total.
