Opel: the parent company PSA wants to sell the development center in Rüsselsheim

F In fact, everything had looked like a truce at Opel, because the management and the company committee had agreed on a rehabilitation package at the end of May. For weeks, workers and Opel management have already clashed. The result was a partial wage waiver for Opel, the loss of 3,700 jobs, but also a job guarantee for the other employees of the builder until July 2023.

But since Tuesday , it is clear that the peace in Rüsselsheim was short-lived: Late in the evening, the French newspaper Le Monde reported that the new owner of Opel, the French group PSA (Peugeot and Citroën), plans to sell a much of the development center (ITEZ) in Rüsselsheim.

Opelaner's Pride: About 7,700 employees develop in Hesse not only the new Opel models, but also took over tasks under the former US General Motors (GM) owner for other brands in the group .

Opel was not just one of the many brands of Americans. In Rüsselsheim we were always proud that we are developing our own models.

The heart is for sale

But according to "The World" there are already concrete discussions to sell the heart of Opel at least in part. French journalists rely on a document from May of this year.

It was even noted which departments should be affected: vehicle development, drive technology, tool development and testing center. Even a price tag already has the object of sale according to "The World". Surfaces must be valued at 500 million euros.

Christian Müller, Head of Development, gave a presentation to interested companies. In this document, he would have "sought a durable solution for the employees", it is a "partnership" or a "concept of co-owner". The newspaper even mentions four concrete interested parties: the French companies Altran, Akka and Segula, as well as the German company Bertrandt.

These are service providers that builders can count on if they do not want to do development in their own business. Altran is currently the favorite. It is also conceivable that Opel / PSA and a prospective buyer will continue together development departments.

"Do not accept the attack without a fight

However, the presentation also indicated that everything was still subject to negotiations with the" social partners "" Stand. It means unions and company committees. But that probably has not been included.

"Our attitude is clear: a buyout of Opel's development would take Opel's future," said Wolfgang Schäfer-Klug, director of the company's board of directors. Opel. "The areas of production, service and administration can not give any identity to the Opel brand without a development center."

Although management has also announced during negotiations on the concept of restructuring the intention to plan "strategic partnerships" in development with external companies. "We have always rejected that," Schäfer-Klug said. Management also asked if there were any concrete sales intentions for parts of the development center. This was refused, on this basis the agreement was concluded.

If information in the French press votes, it means that "knowingly IG Metall and Einigungsstelle with the president of the court have said untruth," Schäfer said. -Klug. As a result, the company committee convened Thursday a short-term work meeting, with management to clarify things. "IG Metall and the General Works Council will not accept such an attack on Opel's core brand and employment in ITEZ without a fight," Schäfer-Klug said.

Capacities are no longer occupied

Neither PSA nor Opel and parts sales on Wednesday. The research center will continue to develop all Opel / Vauxhall vehicles, a French PSA spokesman said on request.

However, research and development for other brands of the former GM owner previously accounted for a large portion of the center's activities. After selling Opel to PSA, the US company decided to resume these activities. The capabilities of the development center are therefore no longer occupied in the future.

He is currently in talks with the social partners, said the PSA spokesman.He can not say how long it will take before A decision is made.To date, there is no decision and it is too early to say if half of the jobs could be affected, as reported "The World. "As a result, GM is currently responsible for 40% of the use of the development center.About 4,000 out of 7,700 employees would work in departments to sell

Tasks for PSA take over

The boss Opel Michael Lohscheller did not agree with the representation of the company committee that they did not know to find partners for the development center. "We regularly discussed with IG Metall and the General Works Council since December 2017 that we s consider strategic engineering partnerships as an option to secure long-term employment in ITEZ, "he said.

This information is also included been signed by the General Business Committee last year. "The statement that we refused such projects in the Einigungsstelle is false."

Lohscheller pointed out that development remains Opel's heart not only will it design its own vehicles, but it will also badume tasks for the PSA parent company. "We want to build a business and explicitly in the engineering of sustainable and successful qualified job site," said Lohscheller.