German carmaker Opel partners with Chinese competitor to adapt to electric age

Opel is restructuring its historic Rüsselsheim plant amid falling sales and growing Chinese EV competition.

The next-generation Opel Astra will be built there as part of a €1 billion German investment through 2030. The development centre will cut 650 jobs, leaving about 1,000 engineers. Opel is also partnering with Chinese EV maker Leapmotor to develop a new C-segment SUV, combining Opel’s engineering with Leapmotor’s EV technology and cost efficiency.