Opel is closing its factory in Eisenach and Rüsselsheim in Germany as Europe’s car manufacturers shutter their doors due to the unprecedented global health crisis. Opel is part of the PSA group that includes Peugeot and Citroen, who are also ceasing production in their factories in Spain, France, Poland and Portugal. The group’s factores in Luton and in Trnava are still open but they are due for closure by March 18. Opel’s German factories managed to remain open longer than others across the continent, as Fiat Chrysler shut their doors last week. Volkswagen stopped production of its vehicles this week as well, having shut its Lamborghini plant in Italy a week ago March 12 claiming it wouldn’t re-open until March 26 at the earliest. Given its location in Bologna, Italy, there’s little confidence the hoped-for opening will take place on time. VW’s production of Porsche has become unteneable because of supply chain disruptions, meaning that its cars will stop rolling off production lines as of Saturday.
