Opel: over 160 years of innovation and excellence
Opel is the famous German vehicle manufacturer with over 160 years of history. Founder Adam Opel established his company in Rüsselsheim, Germany, laying the foundations for an internationally active and successful company with a wealth of awards and innovations.
Starting by producing sewing machines in 1862, Opel went on to become the world’s largest bicycle manufacturer and, eventually, an internationally-renowned German car brand. Thereafter, Opel’s mission has been to make its innovations accessible to everyone – a mission that remains the same to this day. From the Blitz, Kapitan, Admiral and Kadett to the Corsa, Astra, Mokka, Crossland and Grandland, Opel offers a complete range of models that satisfy all consumer needs.
The decisive step in the company’s history was the start of car production in 1899 – a landmark year for the brand as Opel became one of the pioneers in the field. Today, the marque belongs to the club of car manufacturers with the richest tradition.
On January 21, 1899, Opel acquired the car manufacturing company “Anhaltische Motorwagenfabrik” from Friedrich Lutzmann and, in the same year, car production started in Rüsselsheim with the Opel “Patent-Motorwagen System Lutzmann”. In 1906, the 1,000th vehicle was built. The highlight came the following year when Opel was appointed supplier to the imperial court. However, Opel continued to serve the democratisation of the automobile, for example, with the small 4/8 hp “Doktorwagen” in 1909. In the following decades, Opel made history as a trendsetter in the automotive industry. Comfort, safety and state-of-the-art technologies have always played an important role for Opel. Along the way, the brand has grown continuously, without straying from its core philosophy of making mobility accessible to all.
Models such as the Kapitan, Kadett, Ascona, Corsa, Astra, Chevette, Vectra and so many others made automotive industry history, not only for the significant sales figures they brought to the German company, but also for the reliability, build quality and the wealth of innovations they offered owners.
Opel is a company with a long history in motorsport, both in rallying and on the track. Models such as the Opel Manta, Ascona, Kadett, and many others have won countless victories and titles over the decades. Legendary names such as Ari Vatanen, Walter Rohrl, Jimmy McRae, Manuel Reuter and many others captured laurels for Opel.
Today, Opel offers a state-of-the-art and future-oriented mobility on the market: from internal combustion engines, mild and plug-in hybrids to pure electric and fuel cell vehicles such as the Opel Vivaro-e Hydrogen.
Ultimately, the marque’s three brand values – German, affordable, exciting! – are embedded in the DNA of every Opel model and initiative, and always will be.
In the Cypriot market, Opel is represented by CiC Automasters Ltd, at whose new showrooms customers will be able to view and drive the new models in October 2024.