The Zaragoza Plant

The next generation of the Opel/Vauxhall Corsa will be produced exclusively in Zaragoza as of 2019. In addition, the electric variant of the bestselling sub-compact car will also roll off the Zaragoza production line by 2020. The Zaragoza plant started building the Opel Corsa in 1982. Since then almost thirteen million cars have been built in the plant, thereof more than ten million units of the bestseller Corsa. Groupe PSA is also currently building the Opel Mokka X, the Opel Crossland X and the Citroën C3 Aircross in the plant.

Mister Cobo, the Zaragoza plant has successfully completed talks with stakeholders to become more competitive. How do you see the outcome?
Antonio Cobo: The negotiations were not easy but we could reach a common goal because all stakeholders focused on the future of our plant. I assess these negotiations as an exercise of responsibility by all parties understanding that competitiveness and performance is crucial. This was also necessary to support the PACE! plan which needs contributions from every one of us. We all, Management and Unions, were confronted with a huge challenge. We had to properly balance various needs. We wanted a competitive plant to guarantee our future, however, we had to take the legitimate interests of our employees into consideration. The open dialogue and the spirit to preserve social harmony, one of the traditional values of the Zaragoza plant, have helped to come to a good solution. Thanks to this balanced agreement that increases our competitiveness, the next generation of the Opel Corsa will be produced exclusively in the Zaragoza plant from 2019 and an electric version – the technology of tomorrow – will be also manufactured from 2020 on. This is undoubtedly an important step forward for the future of our factory and marks the beginning of a new era.

Neue #Opel #Corsa-Generation wird ab 2019 ausschließlich in Saragossa () hergestellt. Erster rein elektrischer Corsa folgt 2020. Soziale Rahmenvereinbarung sichert dem Werk Saragossa nachhaltig die Zukunft. https://t.co/B8OqRMMM8G #CorsaTime #eMobility pic.twitter.com/hMnpiDOfxy

— Opel Newsroom (@OpelNewsroom) 14. Februar 2018

So what are your next priorities?
Antonio Cobo: We are supporting the PACE! goals by implementing the Zaragoza Masterplan. This means we will improve in all areas aiming to become a benchmark plant: more competitive, productive, flexible and efficient to cope with the challenges we will be facing going forward. We need to be among the best in the automotive industry. And we will of course get the plant ready for new successful launches in 2019 and 2020. On daily focus is to deliver our customers with the best quality cars produced in the most efficient way possible. We know that we must work hard and intelligently every day to create a sustainable future. I am confident because I know what we are able to achieve.

“The open dialogue and the spirit to preserve social harmony, one of the traditional values of the Zaragoza plant, have helped to come to a good solution.“

– Antonio Cobo –
Plant Director Zaragoza

How do you see the role of your plant in the future?
Antonio Cobo: We would like to see Zaragoza join the best Opel and Groupe PSA plants and contribute to the success of the company. A plant fully immersed in the transformation to new technologies and ready for new products like the electric Corsa. We also want to support all efforts to become the leading brand in Spain again.