Opel celebrates ‘60 Years of Opel in Kaiserslautern’ on June 20

• June 3, 1966: Official opening of the Opel plant in Kaiserslautern
• Ongoing success story: Site today as an important parts supplier in the group
• June 20, 2026: Open day with employees, families and the public
• Attractive anniversary programme: Live music, activities for young and old as well as guided tours in the press shop and component production
• Tradition with a future: Exhibition of Opel vintage cars and current models including test drive opportunity plus high-performance concept car Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo

On June 3, 1966, the Opel plant in Kaiserslautern was officially opened. In the years and decades that followed, the site first developed into an important powertrain plant and then to a key component plant in the group. Today, it supplies more than 20 Stellantis sites all over the world. Currently, more than 30 models from seven Stellantis brands contain components from Kaiserslautern.

The successful history and development of the plant into a state-of-the-art production site is a reason to celebrate. On June 20, 2026, Opel will open the gates to the public for the big anniversary of ‘60 years of Opel in Kaiserslautern’. At the open day, employees, their families and friends as well as all Opel fans can get to know the site from a completely different perspective and take a look behind the scenes.

“Opel and Kaiserslautern have been inextricably linked for 60 years now and we want to celebrate this anniversary! Visitors can expect hours full of surprises, various experiences and new insights. I would like to thank our employees in particular, without whom this success in Kaiserslautern would not have been possible. Come by and experience what Opel stands for in Kaiserslautern,” said plant manager Bilyana Stern.

The anniversary programme on June 20 starts in the morning at 10.00 CEST. Throughout the day, visitors will gain an insight into everyday production and tasks on site as well as into the current Opel and further Stellantis models. They can experience the processes in the press shop and component production on an interesting tour. After all, around 400 different components are manufactured in Kaiserslautern. More than 350,000 parts produced here leave the plant every day in all directions of Europe, where they are then installed in a wide variety of Opel and Stellantis models – the top-of-the-line SUV Opel Grandland alone contains over 100 parts that are manufactured in Kaiserslautern.

From classic cars to high-performance studies: Opel models in all their facets

On the open day, visitors can get to know various vehicles better and experience them for themselves during a test drive, for example – first and foremost, the new Opel Astra and the new Opel Astra Sports Tourer. The latest variants of the compact class bestseller were designed and developed at the headquarters in Rüsselsheim and are also built there. The top-of-the-range SUV Opel Grandland – produced at the Eisenach site and thus also ‘made in Germany’ – will be available to Opel fans in Kaiserslautern on the anniversary day, too.

Furthermore, the stunning Opel Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo will certainly be an eye-catcher. With a system output of 588 kW (800 hp), 800 Newton metres of torque, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.0 seconds and a top speed of 320 km/h, the concept car stands for pure electric high performance. At the same time, the Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo is the brand’s first concept car to merge the digital and real worlds. Visitors can also experience this live at the factory party – by driving the electric car themselves in the Gran Turismo 7 racing simulator.

If guests prefer to reminisce about their own childhood, they can visit the vintage car exhibition. Especially for the event, Opel Classic is bringing some special treasures from the Rüsselsheim collection to Kaiserslautern. Here, too, everything is under the motto ‘pure high performance’. The exhibits include rarities such as the Grand Prix racing car from 1913 as the oldest vehicle as well as an Opel Rekord B, which the former German national football coach Sepp Herberger bought in 1966, the year the Opel plant in Kaiserslautern officially opened. The Group 5 special touring car based on the Rekord C, known to fans as the ‘Black Widow’, completes the range – as does the legendary 500 hp 2.5-litre V6 ‘Cliff’ Calibra, with which Manuel Reuter and Opel secured victory in the International Touring Car Championship ITC in 1996, as well as the prototype Astra OPC X-Treme V8 with 444 hp and gull-wing doors from 2001. Other Opel classics from private hands round off the exhibition offer.

Already in the late morning, following the official speeches, there will be an autograph session with a 1. FC Kaiserslautern legend. Who this will be remains a surprise until the day of the event. And for all early risers, the first highlight of the day will take place at around 8.30 CEST when the 4th ADAC Trifels Oldtimerwanderung of the Sportfahrer Union Kaiserslautern starts at the factory premises.

Elsewhere, a varied children’s and family programme will be provided throughout the anniversary day. Whether it is a bouncy castle, go-kart and obstacle courses, a mini-kart track, painting cars, goal wall shooting or different games of skill – there will be plenty on offer for young and old alike. The programme is rounded off by the chance to visit the factory locomotive and the factory fire brigade’s fleet of vehicles. A variety of culinary delights and live music with the band ‘Roof Rabbits’ will further get everyone in the right mood. Exciting information about Opel as an employer is also provided by the Opel vocational training team. And if guests want to take home a souvenir of this special day, they will find a large selection at the Opel merchandising booth. The factory will close its doors again at 16.00 CEST, giving visitors plenty of opportunity to experience Opel in many facets at the Kaiserslautern site.