Opel outsources R&D work


Opel, now part of the PSA French car maker following its sale by the US General Motors in 2017, says it will transfer 2,000 staff in its research and development centre in Rüsselsheim to French technology company Segula. 


The transfer comes on top of a loss of 3,700 jobs in Germany and a temporary pay freeze, agreed earlier in the year (see Labour Research June 2018, page 8). The company says it hopes for a “strategic partnership” with Segula. 


Jörg Köhlinger, regional head of the IG metal union, said that the union wants to look “very critically” at the company’s plans.


“Opel needs an independent development centre or the only thing Rüsselsheim will be doing in a few years will be sticking the badges on cars,” he added.