15.11.2001
Opel Powertrain is building a new transmission plant in Rüsselsheim

Opel Powertrain GmbH prepares the installation of equipment at a new transmission plant on the Opel site in Rüsselsheim: the first production machines for the new six-speed manual-shift gearboxes have arrived. Opel Powertrain GmbH is investing about 180 million German Marks in the very latest plant and technology. Series production of the newly-developed transmission is scheduled to start at the end of 2002.

The countdown for installation of equipment at the new transmission plant in Rüsselsheim has started: the first production machines for the new six-speed manual-shift gearboxes have arrived. Opel Powertrain GmbH is investing about 180 million German Marks in the very latest plant and technology. Series production of the newly developed transmission is scheduled to start at the end of 2002. The plant's capacity will be 230,000 transmissions per year.

The newly developed transmission a particularly compact unit, suitable for front-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured by Opel, Vauxhall, Fiat, Saab, Lancia and Alfa Romeo, with either spark-ignition or diesel engines.

This is the first major investment undertaken by the alliance between General Motors and Fiat Auto in Germany, which came into force almost a year ago and combines the two corporations' engine and transmission development and production in Europe and South America into a single joint venture known as FIAT-GM Powertrain.

Installation of the first machinery – five gear cutting tools, a length trimming and centering machine and two lathes – represents an important milestone in the preparatory work before production can start. The gear cutting machines each weigh six tons and have a total value of eight million German Marks. They will be used in the 'gear area' for the final machining of individual gearwheels. The three other machines are for operation in the 'shaft area': After initial work on gearbox output shafts, they are passed through the length trimming and centering machine before the computer-controlled lathes give them the desired contour. The three machines weigh ten tons each and have a total value of some three million German Marks.