Tag Archives: Opel

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Opel Welcomes a New Class of Apprentices—and Secures Its Future

Rüsselsheim isn’t just where Opel builds cars. It’s where the brand forges the people who will one day design, engineer, and assemble them. This week, the German automaker marked a milestone that wasn’t about a new electric SUV or a performance concept, but about something more fundamental: people. 149 of them, to be exact.

At Opel’s headquarters in Rüsselsheim, the company hosted a festive welcome for its incoming class of apprentices—a tradition that stretches back more than 160 years to Adam Opel himself. Out of the 149, one hundred will train at Rüsselsheim, 30 at Kaiserslautern, 12 at Eisenach, and 7 in Bochum. They’ll pursue careers across technical, commercial, and IT fields, as well as dual study programmes that blend academic learning with on-the-job training.

Opel’s program is no afterthought. The company was recently crowned Training Champion 2025 by the F.A.Z. Institute and ServiceValue, taking top honors among automakers in both classical apprenticeships and dual study formats. That’s no small feat in Germany, where vocational training is serious business. Since Opel’s founding, more than 27,000 young professionals have launched careers through its doors.

“Sound training is the key to professional success,” Opel HR boss Ralph Wangemann said during the ceremony. “We offer both modern learning conditions and a wide range of career prospects. The fact that Opel has twice been named ‘Training Champion 2025’ is a recognition of the great commitment of our entire team.”

But this isn’t just about nostalgia or titles. Opel’s curriculum is shifting to match the automotive industry’s new reality. Apprenticeships in automotive mechatronics, applied computer science, and new cooperative programs in engineering show a clear tilt toward electrification and digitalization—the skills the next Opel generation will need.

It’s easy to overlook ceremonies like this amid headlines about EV platforms and battery factories. But Opel’s investment in training is as much about the company’s future as its latest model lineup. After all, without the next generation of skilled engineers, coders, and technicians, there won’t be anyone to build those cars in the first place.

Source: Stellantis

NEW CARS

Opel Combo Tech: The Compact Van That Feels Like a Passenger Car

Opel’s Combo has long been a versatile workhorse among compact commercial vehicles, but the new Combo Tech special series takes it to a whole new level. With a package designed to blend practicality with comfort and style, Opel is clearly aiming to make life easier for tradespeople who spend long hours behind the wheel.

At first glance, the Combo Tech might look like just another compact van—but the devil is in the details. Standard Intelli-Lux Matrix headlights, a multi-adjustable comfort driver’s seat, and a fully integrated infotainment system with navigation elevate this van to near passenger-car territory. Exterior touches such as car-style bumpers and tech-inspired body decals give the van a polished, professional presence that stands out on the street.

Priced from €26,600 in Germany (excluding VAT), the Combo Tech also delivers savings of roughly €1,000 compared to a model fitted with the same options individually. Buyers can choose between a battery-electric Combo Electric and two diesel variants, offering flexibility for a range of commercial needs.

Practicality Meets Comfort

Measuring 4.40 meters long, each Combo Tech variant offers up to 3.8 cubic meters of cargo space and a load compartment extending up to 3.09 meters. Payload capacity reaches 650 kilograms for the diesel versions, while the electric Combo Electric can handle up to 780 kilograms. These figures place the Combo Tech firmly within the practical van segment—but with a twist.

Inside, the van continues to impress. Drivers enjoy a six-way adjustable comfort seat with lumbar support and armrest, while the two-zone automatic climate control keeps temperatures pleasant year-round. Cold-weather comfort is boosted with a heated steering wheel, wrapped in high-quality leather-like material.

Tech That Makes a Difference

Safety and convenience are also high on the agenda. The Combo Tech comes standard with Intelli-Lux Matrix headlights, fog lights, and the Dynamic Surround View system, which provides a digital interior rear-view mirror covering blind spots or reversing angles. The Visiopark 180° camera system adds confidence when maneuvering in tight spaces.

Connectivity is another area where the Combo Tech shines. The IVI HIGH infotainment system pairs a 10-inch instrument cluster with an equally impressive central HD display. Features like natural speech recognition, TomTom navigation, smartphone mirroring, and an inductive charging station make the van both functional and modern. Keyless Entry & Go comes standard, rounding out the driver-focused tech suite.

A Stylish and Flexible Choice

The Combo Tech also delivers on style. Kaolin White is standard, with metallic Kontrast Grey and Libeccio Blue as options. Black accents on the door handles, mirror caps, and side strips, paired with 16-inch alloys, create a refined, high-quality look. Inside, clever storage compartments, rubber load protection, and slip-prevention measures make loading and unloading more practical.

Powertrains are versatile, with the all-electric variant offering 100 kW (136 hp) and a WLTP-rated 354-km range, while diesel options include 75 kW (102 hp) with a six-speed manual or 100 kW (136 hp) with an eight-speed automatic.

In the Combo Tech, Opel has managed to create a compact commercial vehicle that doesn’t compromise on comfort, style, or practicality. For tradespeople who demand efficiency without sacrificing driver satisfaction, it’s a compelling proposition—one that makes the Combo Tech not just a work van, but a mobile office and a statement vehicle for any company.

Source: Stellantis

NEW CARS

Opel Astra Sports Tourer Hybrid: The Reluctant Marathon Runner

There are cars that like to shout about themselves. Big spoilers, exhausts the size of drainpipes, and dashboards that light up like a fruit machine. And then there’s the Opel Astra Sports Tourer Hybrid – the estate car equivalent of the colleague who quietly does all the work, never complains, and somehow still runs ultramarathons at the weekend.

On paper, it doesn’t sound like a showstopper: 145 horsepower from a 1.2-litre turbo three-pot, boosted by a mild-hybrid setup with a 21 hp electric motor and a 48-volt battery. Hardly the stuff of Nürburgring lap-time bragging rights. But Opel didn’t set out to build a track weapon. They built a long-distance hero – and boy, did it deliver.

During an internal test, Opel’s team decided to see how far their sensible, family-hauling estate could go on one tank of fuel. The answer? A frankly ridiculous 1,200 kilometres without refuelling. That’s Rüsselsheim to Paris, back again, and still enough left in the tank to pick up the kids from football practice.

The numbers are borderline witchcraft. An average of 4.3 litres per 100 km, which is 0.7 litres better than the official WLTP figures. Nearly 345 kilometres covered purely on electric power during the test. And all of this at an average speed of 61 km/h, through the proper grim realities of everyday driving: motorways, traffic jams, stop-and-go nonsense, and even the odd roadwork.

And let’s not forget – this wasn’t some stripped-out eco-lab mule rolling on skinny tyres and hope. The test car had an electric sliding glass roof and all the trimmings. In other words, a real-life car, not some fragile mpg world-record chaser that bursts into tears if you turn the aircon on.

So, what’s the catch? Well, it’s not glamorous. The Astra Sports Tourer is never going to make your pulse race just by looking at it. But as an everyday family wagon that can outlast your bladder on a road trip, it’s quietly sensational.

Opel calls it a “long-distance hero.” We’d call it something else: the estate car that just made efficiency cool again.

Source: Opel