Regardless of the recent profits in the three-digit million range, the Rüsselsheim car manufacturer Opel is still cutting jobs.

In 2100, at the end of the process that started two and a half years ago, it should be fewer than before.

The fact that the only German subsidiary of the Stellantis Group will start building the French sister model DS4 and the compact car Astra in Rüsselsheim this year will not change that, which is the best-selling car with the lightning bolt alongside the small Corsa.

As Opel employees found out on Thursday, from the management's point of view, too many people are still working at the International Development Center.

Currently there are still around 3000, as they say.

The workforce should be reduced by a low three-digit number, it is said.

Thorsten Winter

Business editor and internet coordinator in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.

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The company did not want to comment on the numbers when asked.

A spokesman said: “The Stellantis development network consists of a global network of development centers, including Rüsselsheim with expertise in many fields, such as the development of fuel cell technology.

In view of the challenging context of the automotive industry, we are continuously working on the competitiveness of all areas of the company.

We are discussing the necessary changes within the framework of the programs already announced and agreed with the social partner. "

Heavily shrunk development center

That means: Opel is therefore not planning any job cuts beyond the 2100. However, the company specifies its intentions for the development center, which has already shrunk significantly in recent years. One and a half years ago, Opel sold part of it to the service provider Segula, and a good 700 employees switched to the automotive supplier. Others left the company with a severance payment or took early retirement or partial retirement.

Two and a half years ago, the car manufacturer reported excess capacities, especially in tool and prototype construction, and thus justified the further job cuts. In return, Opel extended the protection against redundancies for operational reasons by two years until mid-2025. Since the management did not go fast enough with the redundancies, there was a threat of redundancies in late summer 2020 despite the agreement to the contrary with the employee representatives. IG Metall accused Opel and the then mother PSA of creating a threatening scenario.