Opel Officially Announces Closure of Bochum Factory in 2016

OpelOpelGermany, 1863 > present85 models
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has officially announced that at the end of production of the current ZafiraToyota NoahJapan, 2001 > present2 versions
in 2016 it will close its Bochum factory. The warehouses on the site will remain open. Opel had said in June that the next Zafira would not be built in Bochum but did not rule out building another car there at the time. It has no plans to fire any workers before the 2016 closure. 

Opel is not completely closing the Bochum facility. The warehouses will remain open and may be expanded according to Opel, and it might still build some components there. This is the end of complete vehicle production at the Bochum factory though. It is also working with the regional government to help find jobs for current workers. 

"Germany is our most important market and with about 20,000 employees the backbone and home of our brand. And this will stay this way in the future,” said Opel Deputy CEO Dr. Thomas Sedran.

Opel wants the company the company to break even financially by about 2015. It plans to reduce European capacity and bring the brand to new markets. It is planning 23 new models and 13 new engines by 2016.