Opel is a fairly well-known automaker from Germany. The brand is of German origin, although this does not mean that the cars are produced specifically in Germany.
Opel is in good demand among consumers. This can be explained by the decent price-quality ratio. At the same time, one of the key reasons for the ability to offer good cars at an affordable price is the competent organization of the production process. The brand has distributed its businesses across different regions and countries.
Due to the fact that production facilities are distributed over different geographical locations, this allows you to save on labor costs, deliver cars to the nearest dealership centers, ensure the efficient supply of original spare parts, components, provide technical support, etc.
But the ramifications of production do not allow us to clearly understand the country of the Opel car manufacturer. Therefore, potential buyers have many questions regarding the origin of vehicles of the German brand.
You should find out and figure out where the Opel Astra is assembled and where the family Opel Zafira, as well as a number of other representatives of the company’s model range, are assembled.
Producing countries
If we talk in general terms about whose manufacturer Opel is, then we can say that it is Germany. The brand is purely German. But here the question is rather not whose production is under the Opel name, but where the assembly is carried out.
Although a car with an Opel nameplate is positioned as German, in practice there is some difference in whose real country the manufacturer is. In fact, we are talking about a German brand assembled in factories in different countries. This principle is used by almost all leading automakers. After all, everyone understands perfectly well that the same Mercedes cars are not assembled exclusively in Germany by pedantic Germans.
The Opel company, which until recently was part of the General Motors automobile corporation, which already gives grounds to call the brand not only German, but also American, has several enterprises. Moreover, General Motors specifically limits the production of Opel cars at its factories, since at the moment it does not particularly count on the German brand. You will learn about the situation with the company a little later.
Some of the problems with expanding Opel's influence and presence in the international market are due to the fact that these cars are mainly created for European consumers. Because of this, cars are not in great demand in the USA, South America, and Asia.
Several factories and production lines can be distinguished, dispersed across different countries. Namely:
- Germany. All premium cars, that is, the most expensive models of the company, are assembled here. Engines are also assembled in Germany, which are then sent to assembly lines in other countries. Germany is still the main production base;
- Europe. There are several branches concentrated in European countries, where full-cycle assembly is carried out. Among them are Poland, Belgium, Spain, Great Britain, Austria and Hungary;
- In France, they exclusively assemble from components. At the same time, Opel is assembled here at factories of other brands;
- Türkiye. Ready-made units are supplied here, so the Turks can only assemble them together.
When it comes to where the popular Opel Insignia is assembled or who the manufacturer of the compact Opel Corsa is, often the first thing that comes to mind for many is China or India.
Yes, many companies, including leading automakers and current auto giants, widely use the Middle Kingdom and India to assemble their cars. This is due to the financial benefits of such production. But this trend did not affect Opel. Also, the manufacturer does not use factories in Indonesia and South America. Therefore, you should not believe that the popular Opel Vectra is actually assembled in some Chinese province or Indonesian city.
FAMILY COUNCIL
Taking into account the indicated expenses, as well as the costs of purchasing mandatory filters and motor oil, the cost of immediate investments will be 18–19 thousand rubles. This means that you can safely ask for a discount in this amount, and the final price of the car will drop to 560 thousand.
The car has intact factory paint: the thickness of the paint layer is from 0.278 to 0.900 mm. The average consumption of diesel fuel is about 6 liters per hundred. The engine has enough torque and endurance - we’re not racing, we’re carrying our family. And since the capricious filter is no longer there, you don’t have to wait for sudden costs. Again, the transport tax rate for 125 diesel power is quite within the capabilities of the average car owner. And there are spare parts for this car.
The downside is a sagging door, unknown actual mileage and a shabby body.
There are more advantages. This means that this is a good offer for those who want to solve many transport problems with the help of one car: on a fishing trip with a group, on vacation with the family, and bring the notorious refrigerator to the dacha. In addition, the Zafira drives with sparkle—for some, this factor is very important.
Main factories
Some car enthusiasts are interested in where Opel Mokka is now assembled for consumers from Russia, and whether cars of this brand really continue to be assembled in the Russian Federation.
Until a certain point, Opel allocated several of its main production lines in Germany, Poland, Great Britain and Russia.
Germany, where 3 enterprises are located, collects:
- Corsa;
- Zafira;
- Astra;
- Adam.
The production of the Astra, Astra ST and Vivaro models is concentrated at two plants in the UK. And Polish facilities are responsible for the production of Astra, Astra Classic and Zafira. For Spain, the key models are Corsa and Meriva.
But the question still remains open as to which plant can assemble the Opel Astra, Mokka, Antara, etc. models. The answer to whose assembly line produced these cars largely depends on the year of production of the car.
The thing is that previously it was not difficult to find out where the Opel Antara or Insignia for Russia was assembled, since the car assembled on the territory of the Russian Federation was precisely intended for domestic consumers. But at present it will not be possible to assemble a whole range of models in Russia.
Some models were actually produced at Russian enterprises. But now not a single car is being produced. Moreover, at one time the production of Opel cars was quite active and large-scale. And it’s still interesting to find out which plant’s capacities in Russia were used for this and where the Opel Astra and other models of the German automobile brand that were no less popular among Russians were created at one time.
The assembly of German cars was concentrated in St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad. Moreover, the following models were created here:
- Astra;
- Zafira;
- Antara;
- Insignia;
- Meriva;
- Astra ST.
It became known quite a long time ago where production will be moved and where the same Opel Mokka, Astra or Zafira is now assembled.
Over the past few years, after Opel left the Russian market, the situation with production facilities and their location has changed a little. Representative offices appeared in South America and South Korea. In the Russian Federation, Opel released its latest car in 2020.
Let's find out who assembles and produces some Opel cars available in the Russian Federation, instead of domestic factories in Kaliningrad and St. Petersburg.
- Different versions of the Astra model, including the Classic and Sport Tourer, were transferred from St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad to assembly lines in the UK;
- The Antara and Mokka models are now produced by Mexicans. Although for some time the South Koreans were also doing this at the same time. Then the assembly in Korea was curtailed, but Mexico remained in business;
- If previously Zafira was produced in Kaliningrad, now these tasks are performed only in Germany;
- Until recently, Meriva was assembled on domestic assembly lines, but after 2020, production moved to Poland.
According to available information, at the moment the demand for Opel cars among Russians is quite high. Therefore, there is a possibility that next year or already in 2020, the German brand will resume cooperation with Russian enterprises, and domestically assembled Opel cars will appear again. Although, given the latest news, the expectations of many may not coincide with reality. Opel is unstable and its future is quite cloudy.
Corsa engine modifications
Each new generation of Corsa received upgraded engines, the technical characteristics of which were improved in relation to increased power in line with European environmental standards and improved efficiency. In the fifth generation D, gasoline units were equipped with an electronic distribution fuel injection system, which made it possible to reduce fuel consumption by 15-23%, with increased power due to turbocharging.
Opel Vectra
Small-displacement engines with a reduced compression ratio provided sufficient acceleration dynamics for cars of small dimensions and low weight. The most common units are 1 and 1.4 liters with a power of up to 65 hp. there were XE series, which were also installed on other Opel models (Vectra, Astra). After restyling in the 2000s, these modernized versions of the engines were equipped with superchargers, which increased their power to 125 hp.
Whose Opel is now
Until now, many car enthusiasts claim that Opel is a purely German brand. This is true, but since 1929 the company has been part of the General Motors auto concern.
History developed sometimes rapidly, sometimes gradually. Opel has had incredible highs and very painful lows. At the same time, there was never the slightest doubt that General Motors would not abandon its European business in the form of the Opel brand.
But everything turned upside down at the beginning of 2020, when suddenly the management of the American concern announced their intention to sell Opel. But along with it, the English subsidiary brand Vauxhall also went under the hammer. The motives turned out to be more than prosaic. Unprofitability. In recent years, Opel and Vauxhall have not been profitable for the company at all. On the contrary, the enterprises were incredibly unprofitable.
Moreover, a buyer was found quite quickly. It turned out to be the PSA automobile association, which includes companies such as Citroen and Peugeot. Many wondered why European auto companies, which themselves had only recently been in a state of deep crisis, suddenly managed to recover a little and achieve good success.
But the logical question becomes regarding the advisability of the PSA merger purchasing the unprofitable and problematic Opel enterprise. In fact, PSA is buying its competitor, since Opel is mainly focused on consumers in the European market. That is, we can assume that the French want to buy a direct competitor, and then simply close all enterprises. A strange move that bears little resemblance to the truth.
Another option is an attempt to join forces, bringing together quite impressive brands in the form of Citroen, Peugeot and Opel in order to oust Volkswagen from its leading position, as well as cope with its eternal rival Renault. That is, PSA has ambitions to take a strong second place on the continent.
General Motors position
As the analytical documentation presented by General Motors clearly shows, since 1999 their European business, that is, the production of Opel cars, has been purely unprofitable. In 2009, a serious financial crisis occurred, in which the American corporation also suffered. Even then, GM was determined to sell Opel due to its chronic unprofitability and unprofitability. Moreover, the company even managed to come to an agreement with representatives from Canada and Russia, that is, there was a real possibility that Opel would eventually become Russian. But only at the very last moment the deal fell through. Whether this is good or bad is difficult to judge now.
When General Motors abandoned the idea of selling its European brand, few doubted that the corporation would decide to sell it in the future. After all, after the failed deal, the Americans began to pour large amounts of money into the development, formation and modernization of Opel. Although several factories had to be closed, including German and Belgian assembly lines, huge amounts of money were simultaneously invested in troubled enterprises.
As a result, Opel actively began modernizing its production, developing new models, improving marketing, and increasing its ratings. As a result, the efforts were not in vain. In Europe, the situation has improved significantly, cars under the Opel brand have become in demand and quite popular.
And then General Motors began to sincerely believe that after almost 20 years, their European automobile brand would finally end the reporting year with positive dynamics, make money and not go into the red. But expectations did not coincide with reality. At the end of 2016, operating losses amounted to an impressive almost $260 million. Then representatives of General Motors explained this by saying that there had been a sharp devaluation of the British currency, and that Great Britain had decided to withdraw the country from the European Union.
PSA's intentions and the Chinese winning position
Not everyone knows, but back in 2012, a certain strategic alliance was signed and created between General Motors and PSA. At that time, the European association of automakers Citroen and Peugeot were going through difficult times and were actually on the verge of bankruptcy. GM helped its European counterparts and even temporarily held about 7% of PSA shares.
An unusual alliance was created with the aim of organizing the joint purchase of components and developing models under the PSA and Opel brands on joint platforms. As a result, cars such as the Crossland X from Opel appeared, which was actually created from the Peugeot 2008. And also one cannot fail to note the crossover GrandLand X, produced under the Opel brand, although in fact it was a re-made 3008 from the French Peugeot.
The result of all these rather unexpected turns was the sale of the Opel brand to the PSA association at the end of 2020. Experts are confident that the main goal of the European car companies Peugeot and Citroen is precisely the absorption of a European competitor in order to further reduce excess production capacity in Europe.
Moreover, the French certainly will not cut jobs in their homeland, since about 13% of PSA shares are on the balance sheet of the state. The reductions will be implemented through England and Germany.
Don't forget about another 13% of shares owned by the Chinese automaker DongFeng. It is he, according to analysts, who benefits more than others in such a situation. After all, only the Chinese company will have at its disposal not only quite interesting and relevant modern technologies from Citroen and Peugeot, but also the largest Opel design center. This will allow the Chinese company to significantly expand its product line, improve quality and brand recognition, without putting much effort into developing new technologies.
Given the current situation, it is very difficult to make a forecast as to where Opel brand cars will be produced in the future, and whether the company will cease to exist completely. There are prerequisites for this. And after the transition to PSA, the risk of Opel disappearing becomes more and more likely.
Which configuration?
At first glance, the main argument in favor of the Corsa is the price. A modern European supermini for 470,000 rubles is a very tempting offer in these times. However, such a price tag is nothing more than a reason to drag the buyer into a car dealership. A car with a 3-cylinder liter engine in the frankly spartan Essencia
will suit only those who are extremely strapped for funds.
"Corsa" should be considered starting from version "Like Edition-1.2"
(from 514,000 rubles): it is equipped with air conditioning, an MP3 radio, a pair of electric windows and heated front seats. In principle, if you are ready to be content with an interior trimmed with simple gray fabric and simple plastic, agree to put up with a polyurethane steering wheel and a continuous sofa back, and do not plan to order any additional equipment, this Corsa is quite suitable for the role of a budget urban supermini.
"Enjoy"
14 thousand more expensive, but has air conditioning, an audio system and electrical accessories.
And most importantly, it allows you to choose a 1.4-liter engine and a full-fledged automatic transmission instead of a twitchy “robot”. In addition, this Corsa has a more practical trunk and interior trim. However, once you start adding options to such a car, without which a modern supermini is already unthinkable, you begin to understand that it is more profitable to choose the Color Edition
. This version costs from 578,000 rubles - 50 thousand more expensive than the Enjoy. By and large, it is the “Color Edition” that has almost all the prerequisites to be recognized as optimal: noble interior decoration, light alloy wheels, climate control, radio and heated front seats. In addition, only such a car can be chosen with a spectacular two-tone body paint.
However, like the other versions listed above, the “flower” Corsa has a significant drawback: only 2 airbags, which is clearly not enough for a modern and, moreover, compact car. You can, of course, correct this drawback with the “Security” package for 25 thousand, but then it’s better to immediately take a closer look at the more advanced “Cosmo”
. It is 14,000 more expensive and also lacks light alloy wheels. However, it has 6 airbags, ESP and Isofix hinges in the front seat. In Cosmo, the center console and steering wheel spokes are decorated with elegant glossy linings, and the seats are decorated with practical leather and fabric upholstery. In addition, this package includes such useful little things as cruise control and an on-board computer. And if you add all the options available in Cosmo to the seemingly tempting Color Edition, it will cost 19,000 rubles more.
Finally, a charged OPC
- this is only a 3-door body, an incendiary turbo engine with a power of 192 or 210 hp. (“Nürburgring Edition”), an abundance of sports decor, excellent handling and a steep price - from 915,000 rubles.
Typical problems and malfunctions
Among minor illnesses, it is worth noting the wear and tear of the front windshield wiper mechanism. Another common problem is a broken plastic trim at the bottom of the windshield. Owners damage it when trying to remove the battery. They bend the plastic. This cannot be done. First, you need to unscrew the wipers and remove all the plastic. Then on the left side you can check the water flow. If it clogs, water will rush into the cabin.
Electrical failures are non-systemic in nature, so there are no specific complaints. True, sometimes the actuator responsible for the level of low beam headlights fails, or the central locking begins to act up: not all doors open.
The corrosion of the Opel Corsa is not as large-scale as that of its predecessor. As a rule, rust appears only on older cars. In addition, corrosion attacks the elements of the exhaust system.
Opel Corsa C (2000-2006) – to have and not to have
In Russia, reviews of the Opel Corsa are not the best. So is the Corsa a bad car? Let's try to figure it out.
The Opel Corsa C replaced the B series in 2000. It's funny, but compared to its predecessor, it has not changed significantly. At least visually. However, it is based on a fundamentally new platform, the wheelbase has increased by 45 mm, the interior has been updated, and the list of equipment has been expanded. True, the trunk has lost 20 liters of volume - its capacity is 260 liters.
Unfortunately, new does not mean attractive. The interior is painfully boring. Even in lavishly equipped examples, the center console is just an old-fashioned clutter. The large steering wheel is also not very attractive. The body design was not much different from competitors of that time, although today it still looks quite attractive. However, the Opel Corsa is not without advantages. For example, good space on the back seat.
Transmission
All Opel Corsa are front-wheel drive. The power units were paired with a 5-speed manual, 4-speed automatic or Easytronic automated transmission. The manual transmission clutch is quite delicate. It wears out relatively quickly, especially with a dynamic driving style. This element is relatively expensive and cannot cope with the large power flow of an Italian turbodiesel. The weak point in the manual transmission is the delicate gear shift fork.
We do not recommend purchasing an Opel Corsa C with an Easytronic automated transmission, which almost always has problems with the software. A 4-speed classic automatic transmission is much safer.
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