3.10.2003
Opel Polska's Gliwice plant to produce second model

Astra II production targets Central and Eastern European growth markets. After six months of intensive preparation, employees and guests witnessed the first Astra II roll off the assembly line.

Friday, October 3, marked the start of production of the Astra II at Opel Polska's Gliwice plant. After six months of intensive preparation, employees and guests witnessed the first Astra II roll off the assembly line transporting Krzystof Krystowski, Deputy Minister of the Economy, Michael J. Burns, President of General Motors Europe and Romuald Rytwinski, Managing Director of GM Poland and Opel Polska.

With the new, third generation Astra to be introduced in Europe in early 2004, the Gliwice plant will become the sole producer of the current Astra II model, which represents a high quality, high value car specifically targeted to customers in the growth markets of Central and Eastern Europe. With planned annual production of 40,000 units, the addition of the Astra II will result in the creation of an additional two hundred jobs. The Astra II will be manufactured in four body styles: sedan, 5-door hatchback, station wagon and delivery van, with up to 80% of production being exported, primarily to other Central and Eastern European markets but also to Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of South Africa and some countries in South America and Asia.

"The people at the Gliwice plant have established a record of high quality, efficiency and flexibility with Agila production in the past years and we are confident that this 'can do' approach will result in a highly successful launch of the Astra," said Burns. "The effective implementation of GM's Global Manufacturing System at this plant and the positive regional investment climate that exists here in Gliwice both played a key role in this decision."
The Astra joins the Agila microvan as the second Opel model to be manufactured at the Gliwice plant, which is the biggest foreign investment in the Katowice Special Economic Zone, employing some 2000 people. In 2002, the plant built 85,000 cars with 95% exported to Europe and China. The plant's achievements provide a good example of successful foreign investment in the Silesia region and the addition of a second model is expected to have a further positive effect on both the plant and the Polish economy.