GM announced today that it will invest 230 Million Euros for new testing facilities into its European Product Development Centre at the Opel headquarters in Ruesselsheim and at the proving ground in Dudenhofen. The investment will be executed in the next three to four years. It only comes two weeks after GM’s Board of Directors visit of the European Opel/Vauxhall operations and a commitment to invest 4 billion Euros for future product between 2013 and 2016.
The announcement is a further step in GM’s efforts to strengthen its European brand Opel/Vauxhall and – at the same time – GM’s global product development resources by enhancing the company’s overall flexibility, speed and efficiency and investing in to global common tools and equipment. The investment also includes a new fuel station, audio lab and safety analysis building.
New dynamometers for engines will replace older equipment to allow for development of the following generation of powertrains for 2020 and beyond. More than that, flexible test cells to enable improved operational efficiencies will be implemented. This state-of-the-art-lab will then be linked to GM’s powertrain facilities in Pontiac and Torino.
As part of the investment, the proving grounds at Dudenhofen will also gain new capabilities, with a soak area, new workshop and vehicle dynamometers for important ultra-low emission testing. This globally common GM-equipment will also allow similar test procedures and comparable data.
On top of that the management board and the works council earlier this week have agreed to more flexible working conditions at the European Product Development Centre in Ruesselsheim with more than 6,000 highly qualified employees. This accord is based on the Master Agreement from March 28, 2013.
