Opel Builds Center for Engines of the Future

Opel starts major construction project at its Rüsselsheim headquarters: The company continues its investment offensive, allocating 210 million euros to the construction of a complex of buildings – the tallest seven stories high – on the south-west sector of the International Technical Development Center (ITDC) premises.

On a total building surface area of around 36,000 square meters, from 2017 engineers and technicians will develop the power trains of the future. The new center will also house 43 newest-generation performance test benches.

The construction project is part of the investment announced last year that earmarks 230 million euros for new testing and engineering facilities at the ITDC and at the Test Center Rodgau-Dudenhofen. The lion’s share of that, EUR 210 million, is being invested in the Rüsselsheim site. The complex will cover an area of around 13,000 square meters south of the railroad tracks and west of Portal 45 in Rüsselsheim, parallel to the Rugbyring. This is the largest building investment in Rüsselsheim since the opening of the new production plant in 2002.

The site is embedded in the engineering network of the GM Powertrain Organization. Due to internationally synchronized test methods and software, findings can be optimally analyzed and implemented.

Steven Kiefer, Head of GM Powertrain, said that for them, Rüsselsheim is the center for the development of small and mid-size gasoline engines.

- Important new engine generations will be created in Rüsselsheim, including their applications for all markets where GM is present. The new facilities meet globally uniform technical standards and increase the flexibility, development speed and efficiency of the entire group.” - Kiefer continued.