Cars from Zaragoza: 25 Years of Success in Europe

The supermini first left the plant, which was opened by King Juan Carlos I, in November 1982 and debuted in a segment in which Opel would soon play a key role. Since then, 9.34 million units have been produced at the plant, including eight million Corsas. The contribution GM España makes to the region of Aragon with its production is considerable: the plant and its suppliers represent around one quarter of the region’s industrial output and 50 percent of its exports.

GM has invested over 3.8 billion euros in the plant’s construction, as well as in the continual improvement and adaptation process to incorporate state-of-the-art technology. Over 550 million euros alone was spent on a completely new paint shop and modernized press shop to prepare for the current fourth-generation Corsa. Since its opening, a total of 9,342,000 Opel cars have been produced at the plant, including 8,027,000 Corsas, 816,000 Meriva minivans, 42,000 high-roof Combos, 251,000 first-generation Tigra coupés, 154,000 Kadetts and 53,000 Astras. The production program is rounded off with component sets for the Corsa plant in Eisenach and the firm Heuliez in France, who produce the current Tigra cabrio-coupé.

The Zaragoza plant covers an area of 3.15 square kilometers, with over 2000 cars produced every day. Currently 8000 employees, including 150 apprentices, work in a three-shift rotation. Around 5500 more positions were generated at the 58 supplier firms in the region. Establishing GM in Aragon was also an important step for Opel overall, as with its new status as a domestic producer, it was possible to offer the complete Opel model portfolio for the first time without the previously imposed import restrictions. This allowed Opel to offer its cars at marketable prices. Today, there are around 1.5 million Opel passenger cars registered in Spain.

The Corsa’s sales records – almost ten million Corsas have been produced in Europe including the units built in the Eisenach plant – are not the only highlights of the supermini’s career. It also boasts motor sport success, technological innovations and a design that has won more than 20 international prizes. The current generation, which was launched one year ago, sets standards in quality, safety and technology. With its fresh, attractive design and even more environmentally friendly engines, such as the new 1.3 CDTI which produces just 119 g/CO2 per km, the Corsa has made a significant contribution to Opel’s current sales success in Europe. -GM Europe