General Motors and Opel have celebrated a major success at Europe’s most important awards show for the automotive industry – the reason was a big honor for GM Chairman & CEO Mary Barra: On November 8, at the “Golden Steering Wheel 2016” ceremony in Berlin Barra received the “Honorary Golden Steering Wheel 2016” award for her tireless work for GM and Opel.

The automotive industry’s “Honorary Oscar” went to her because: “Mary Barra is responsible for the renaissance of General Motors. She has led the company into the future by establishing a new corporate culture, advancing trend-setting models and entering innovative business areas for GM. In the process, Opel was always part of her equation and the brand’s upward trend in the last years is due not least thanks to her”.

“SHE HAS A CLEAR VISION”
Barra accepted the award in the presence of Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann and Vice President Communications Johan Willems. “Technology leadership has been at the core of

the Opel brand since it was founded in 1862, and it continues to drive the company today,” said Barra. “General Motors and Opel are working together to define and lead the future of personal mobility, in Germany, in Europe and around the world.” Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann added, “We are proud to have a leader like Mary Barra at the helm at General Motors. She has a clear vision for GM that we are realizing together and that has played a key role in getting Opel back on the track to success.”

The award ceremony was also a premiere for all of the employees of Opel and GM. After the new Astra became the 16^th Opel model since 1978 to win the “Golden Steering Wheel” last year, this was the first time an executive from the company was granted the “Honorary Steering Wheel”. The award is granted by the two newspapers Bild am Sonntag and Auto Bild. A jury made up of readers, experts and celebrities chooses the year’s award-winners and newcomers.