Opel AG

Opel AG

▪ German company
in full  Adam Opel Ag,  

      German automotive company, a wholly owned subsidiary of the U.S. General Motors Corporation, specializing in the manufacture of passenger cars, minibuses, and light vans. Headquarters are in Rüsselsheim, Ger.

      The company was started in 1898 when the five Opel brothers began converting the bicycle and sewing machine factory of Adam Opel (1837–95) into the automobile complex that before World War II was to produce more cars than any other European facility. In their first year of production, they brought out the Opel-Lutzmann but soon abandoned it. The firm introduced its first original model, a twin-cylinder Opel, in 1902.

      The company was emerging as a major force in the early development of the auto industry when in 1911 the plant was destroyed by fire. Forced to rebuild from scratch, Opel took advantage of the opportunity to retool with the most modern and efficient equipment. In 1913 Opel trucks were added to the product line. Although production was restricted following Germany's defeat in World War I, productivity improved as Opel became the first German manufacturer to adopt the efficient assembly-line method of operation. One of its most distinctive roadsters of this period was the Laubfrosch, or tree frog, so named for its green colour.

      The hyperinflation and economic uncertainty of the 1920s prompted the Opel family to relinquish control of the firm, ultimately to General Motors. With the defeat of Germany in World War II, Opel lost a portion of its facilities to the Soviet Union but quickly resumed production of its remaining lines. As one of the largest industrial firms in Europe, Opel accounts for about one-quarter of all German vehicle output and exports mainly to other European countries and South Africa.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Opel 4/12 PS — Opel Laubfrosch: Dasselbe in grün Der Opel 4 PS, im Volksmund Opel Laubfrosch genannt, bezeichnet die Opel Modelle, die zwischen 1924 und 1931 produziert wurden. Der Opel 4/12 PS, das Grundmodell, war das erste in Deutschland am Fließband gebaute …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Opel P 4 — Opel P4 (Spezial Limousine) Opel P4 (Spezial Limousine) bei einer Oldtimerparade (1984) Der Opel P4 war ein Automobil, von dem die Adam Opel AG zwischen 1935 und 1937 im Stammwerk …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Opel GT — (1968–1973) Der Opel GT ist ein zweisitziges Coupé Modell der Automarke Opel, das von Oktober 1968 bis Mitte 1973 103.463 mal gebaut wurde. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Opel GT — Manufacturer Opel Production 1968–1973 Assembly Rüsselsheim, Germany …   Wikipedia

  • Opel GT — Constructeur …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Opel 4/8 PS — Opel Opel „Doktorwagen Opel 4/8 PS Hersteller: Adam Opel KG Verkaufsbezeichnung …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Opel P4 — Opel Opel P4 (Spezial Limousine) P4 Hersteller: Opel Produktionszeitraum: 1935–1937 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Opel P4 — Opel P4 …   Википедия

  • Opel 4 PS — Opel Laubfrosch: „Dasselbe in grün“ Als Opel 4 PS, im Volksmund Opel Laubfrosch genannt, wurden Pkw bezeichnet, die von der Adam Opel KG (ab 1929 AG) in Rüsselsheim zwischen Mai 1924 und Juni 1931 produziert wurden. Der Opel 4/12 PS, das… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Opel GT — Opel GT …   Википедия

  • Opel 5/12 PS — Opel Opel 5/12 PS (1912) 5/12 PS Hersteller: Opel Produktionszeitraum: 1911–1920 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”