- In connection with the production transfer between plants of the Opel brand, the German site Rüsselsheim will host the Zafira minivan production from 2016 (this model is now produced in Bochum) while the Rüsselsheim plant will stop producing the Astra in 2015.

- From 2016 the Astra will only be produced Ellesmere Port (UK), under the Vauxhall name, and in Gliwice (Poland) under the Opel name.

- The Polish plant will therefore increase its production of Astra recovering the production volume from Rüsselsheim.

- Let us recall that the Astra was produced in Europe at four different locations until 2010 Bochum (Germany), Antwerp (Belgium), Ellesmere Port (United Kingdom) and Gliwice (Poland).

- The decline in sales of this model on the European market since the early 2000s and the search for lower costs from General Motors led to the withdrawal of half the sites that produced the Astra and the preference for a site located in low-cost Eastern Europe (Gliwice).

- Remember that the next Astra is scheduled for 2015,  in other words just before its transfer.

Data source: File #101 - Worldwide production detailed by models

- Production capacity in Europe in 2012 31% higher compared to actual production, in all plants on the continent (including Turkey, Russia, Ukraine).

- This figure is one of the worst in ten years, since only 2009 (the peak of the financial crisis) had experienced an even poorer outcome (38% of non-employed capacity) over the past ten years.

- The skill levels of European plants that can be seen in the document below include plant openings and plant closures, and also include reductions in capacity or capacity increases implemented in some existing plants .

- With the decline of the European market in 2013, which is not compensated by a sufficient increase in exports outside of Europe, it is likely that the rate of use of European plants will decline further down probably to approximately 65 %.

- The year 2014 should be more promising, because on one hand the European market should restart (after four years of decline) and on the other hand three plants are going to close in Europe (Bochum, Aulnay, Genk), which will naturally  generate a reduction in installed capacity.

Data source: File #101 - Worldwide production detailed by models

Data source: File #101 - Worldwide production detailed by models

- Six months after their launch, the Peugeot 301 and Citroën C-Elysee started off better than expected. These two models are not scheduled for marketing in Western Europe (excluding Spain and Portugal) are finding their customers in Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic and Slovakia.

- In the first five months of 2013, over 11,000 Peugeots 301 and Citroën C-Elysee have been sold in across the countries mentioned.

- In recent months, both models have been launched in the Middle East, Israel and some African countries, including Algeria, which already represents 6,000 orders. Russia and Ukraine the last countries where were launched these models also appear promising with 1300 orders in Russia and 800 in Ukraine in a single month.

- As a result, PSA has decided to increase by 50% the production potential in Vigo (Spain) of the Peugeot 301 and Citroën C-Elysee. The production capacity of the two models in this plant is now of 150 000 units per year against 100,000 previously.

- The next step is China with a local manufacturing plant in Wuhan for a capacity of 150,000 units per year. Overall PSA Peugeot plans to sell 300,000 301 and Citroën C-Elysee per year against 250,000 previously.

Data source: File #101 - Worldwide production detailed by models