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The sweetness of the General Motors era is over for Opel. Bought by PSA, the German manufacturer is being reviewed from top to bottom by his new French owner. According to our information, confirming those of the "World", PSA seeks a buyer for part of the Opel R & D. Only one site is concerned, that of Russelsheim, the cradle of the mark Eclair. The operation, if it materialized, would not fail to cause a stir in Germany
In France, it explains that we must find a solution to offset the decline in activity of the site. He worked extensively for General Motors and designed the Opel line. "Nothing has been decided yet. In addition to the measures taken in terms of internal organization, we need to discuss the best way to manage the decline in activity with staff representatives, "says one at PSA headquarters. Where it is recalled that in December, the framework agreement signed with IG Metall mentioned the need to find strategic partnerships in R & D.
Transfer
The constructor's idea would be to cede certain activities of Russelsheim, especially those that are duplicates with its French R & D centers. Between a quarter and half of the 8,000 employees of the site could be involved. Opel vehicles will always be designed and developed at Opel, says PSA. Similarly, German engineers must still become the group's global competence center for fifteen fields, including hydrogen, utilities, or the design of the new 1.6-liter petrol engine.
For the time being, different hypotheses would be still under study. The most serious would be to transfer employees to a company of engineers, such as Altran, Akka, Segula or Bertrandt, while avoiding job cuts in the end. In France, PSA has multiplied the agreements of the genre in recent years, with Capgemini and Segula in particular. It would be logical for the group to adopt the same attitude, common in the sector, with Opel.
"The engineers of one manufacturer can not work for another manufacturer. Those outsourced R & D companies can, it's their job, "said a source familiar with the matter. These transfers of employees are made in exchange for the signing of contracts. "These are very complex operations to digest at the HR level for the buyer," says a player in the sector.
Restructuring
In Germany, the news should boost both the unions and the media. "The French did not play cards on the table from the start. Opel is developing as a kind of commercial department with a production site and a mini development center, "said Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, a professor at the University of Duisburg and a national reference in the field of the automotive economy. 19659002] Since last year, PSA has embarked on a major restructuring at Opel to reduce the payroll by 30%. Voluntary departure plans have been put in place, as have partial unemployment measures. With Russelsheim on the front line
Julien Dupont-Calbo
Thibaut Madelin
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