“There is no need for discussion, we both have the same tastes anyway.”

At the German Figure Skating Championship on Titisee in February of 1925, Werner Rittberger is crowned as the German Champion. He reputedly takes such a run for his jump on the lake’s frozen surface that he performs a double twist – a premiere. Previously his famous ‘Rittberger,’ first seen in Berlin back in 1909, was merely a single jump. Now the ‘double Rittberger’ was born. Yet, the twins Lars and Lucas Ripperger – a.k.a. the double ‘Ripperger’ – came into this world on 23 July 1994. Lucas was born seven minutes before his ‘little brother’ Lars. The brothers have been inseparable for 21 years and they even chose the same career: Both work at Opel in International Product Marketing. ‘Big brother’ Lucas works in the large commercial vehicle segment while his ‘little brother’ Lars is involved with small and mini vehicles.

The 21-year-olds are being educated in business administration at Opel as part of a cooperative course of studies: “It starts with a two-year industrial management assistant course, which we have completed in the meantime with an examination through the Chamber of Industry and Commerce,” Lucas explains. “We began a four-year business administration course of studies at Mainz University at the same time, intending to graduate with a bachelor degree in the summer of 2017.” A master course of studies over five semesters in parallel to employment is intended to follow. In the meantime they are working from Monday through Thursday in the Opel specialist department. They participate in various projects as team members and handle day-to-day business tasks under their own responsibility.

Disagreement – What’s That?
They were always set on wearing the same clothes, did everything together, and the usual brotherly rivalries simply did not exist, even in their childhood and youth. Not in hockey, not in the music club, and definitely not in the evangelical youth group. Looking at old photos from those days, even they are often not sure who is who. They have always had the same friends and the same barber. Both love to eat meat, ideally right off the grill. Tomatoes on the other hand are always left on the plate. They spend their vacations together, walk the family dog together, and take turns driving to work. So they really do everything together, all the time?

Nothing but harmony, is that even possible? No curse whatsoever, nothing but blessings? The two of them shrug almost apologetically. “We truly feel very fortunate that we are twins and are happy sharing everything,” says Lars. “Not to mention that we are stronger as a team than alone.” Lucas and Lars did not even go in for the pranks and jokes typical for twins, never having taken advantage of looking the same. The boys are simply too nice and polite for that – being naughty is just not in their nature.

Then they think of a difference after all, one of very few: Lars is a bit more of a car fanatic. While both of them are totally thrilled by their educational model and the ‘incredibly cool Opel products,’ Lars is always one step ahead when it comes to cars. Not only is his driving style a bit more sporty, he always knows what is going on in the scene as well. Which is why Lucas lets Lars take the lead when it comes to choosing a leased vehicle. Both of them consistently drive the same model, always an Opel. The question of whether the suggestion made by Lars is discussed or if he is the sole decision maker is met with uncomprehending stares. “There is no need for discussion, we both have the same tastes anyway,” notes the ‘older’ brother Lars.

Brothers Lars and Lucas Ripperger work in the fourth generation at Opel.

Family is the most important thing for them in their private lives. The two live at home with their parents and grandmother in a multigenerational house in Rüsselsheim near the cult bakery Hofferberth. They dream of careers with Opel, staying in Rüsselsheim, and perhaps building a house together one day. Both are single at the moment but there have been girlfriends. They never got in each other’s way, quite to the contrary, their respective girlfriends always got along well with the other brother, as well.

Sole Distinguishing Feature: Fingerprints
In the meantime, they purposely wear different clothing to make life easier for the fellow workers in International Product Marketing. While Lars tells us about that, Lucas is lost in thought and buttons up his jacket, whereupon Lars does the same with identical gestures. It almost looks like synchronized swimming. Incredibly enough these similarities do not seem at all peculiar. Clearly these outgoing and communicative lads from Rüsselsheim are not putting anything on. The fact that there are two of them is simply entirely normal in their eyes. But now they think of something that sets them apart after all: “I recently tried to unlock my brother’s iPhone with fingerprint recognition, but it did not work,” Lucas recalls.