Opel is going to close its Bochum plant in 2016. The costs that the German manufacturer will have to support reach 550 million euros. A costly decision to say the least.
General Motors decided toc lose the plant in Bochum two years ago, in its attempt to make the Opel brand profitable. Most of the money will be used to clear the facility and to transfer all the production line dedicated to the current generation Zafira in Russelsheim.
The old Opel factory near Frankfurt will have to acommodate the assembly of the Zafira, along the current Insignia. Astra also will no longer be produced in Bochum.
The assembly will take part in two different factories: one in Ellesmere Port, United Kingdom, and one in Gliwice Poland. This means that Astra wont be produced in Germany anymore.
The remaining money will be split among the 3300 workers in Bochum, set to go home with retirement programs and severance payments.