Opel Celebrates Topping Out of Hungarian Engine Plant’s Expansion

VIENNA – Adam Opel celebrates the topping out of a 323,000-sq.-ft. (30,000-sq.-m) expansion of its Opel Szentgotthard engine plant in Szentgotthard, Western Hungary, an important part of the auto maker’s expansion.

Opel plant in Hungary builds 1.8L engines for Chevrolet Cruze.

Opel in September announced plans to invest €500 million ($675 million) to expand Hungarian engine production. The investment is supported by an €18.9 million ($25.5 million) state grant.

The expanded part of the plant will come online in late 2012, with production at full capacity totaling 500,000 units annually. The investment will create 800 new jobs.

Plans call for the production of three new engine families that will meet Euro 6 emissions standards. The portfolio includes 1.4L gasoline and 1.6L gasoline and diesel engines.

Opel Szentgotthard currently manufactures 1.6L and 1.8L gasoline engines.

The auto maker says production at the new facility will be highly flexible.