Eisenach: A City Holding Its Breath

Opel is fighting for its survival and the city of Eisenach is anxiously awaiting the outcome. Everyone is wondering what will become of Opel in this city with its strong car-making tradition. It's music to the ears The hobby of these Opel enthusiasts is rally driving - and they work in the automotive industry. The livelihoods of many people in Eisenach depend on carmaking. Thomas Gimm works at the local Opel plant. The crisis that has hit the auto maker has also hit the enthusiasts' club. Thomas Gimm, Opel employee: "The car crisis is a big issue at the club. We're looking for a sponsor and it's very difficult for us this year, because of the crisis in the industry and all the belt-tightening". The famous Wartburg Castle, where Martin Luther was once imprisoned, sits high above Eisenach. Likewise looming large over the town is the threat of a hundred years of carmaking tradition coming to an end. Opel has asked the government for financial aid, and Thomas Gimm is uneasy as he drives to work each day. There's been nothing but bad news recently. He's an engineer at Opel's Eisenach plant - one of the most modern in the world. It was built here in the former East Germany shortly after Berlin Wall fell. As his shift begins, he gets the latest news - which is positive. Full production is to resume, with normal working hours for all employees. But he says he's still fearful of losing his job. Thomas Gimm: "I'm really on edge. I hope that things will turn out well, and that we all keep our jobs and keep on working and living our lives as usual." The government's financial incentive for car buyers who scrap their old vehicles has been a success. 750 Corsas roll off the assembly line every day. But Opel's market share has been in steady decline for years – the 18 hundred employees are expecting huge cuts. Harald Lieske, Opel works council: "I expect there to be a solution without plant closures, including Eisenach. There should be minimal layoffs and proper compensation packages, and of course I hope customers will remain loyal to us and keep on buying Corsas." It's been a roller-coaster ride for this Opel dealership. Customers are buying like never before. But the manager is still worried about the future. Along with 4,000 other dealers, he's considering investing in Opel as a last resort. Sascha Schoor, car dealership manager: "I think it would send very clear signal to our customers and to the government, too. It'd be a sign that we support the marque - and that we have really good products at the moment." Bad news for Opel is bad news for the region as a whole. However, the carmaker's potential demise could benefit some companies. One of them is "Truck-Lite". Its 350-strong workforce make components for vehicle lighting systems. The plant's boss, Ralf Urban, says his company serves a wide range of automakers, including Volkswagen and Daimler. Ralf Urban, Truck-Lite Europe GmbH: "As bad as it sounds ... we don't supply Opel, so there's a fairly high probability that we'd profit from it. Vehicles of other carmakers would sell better if Opel were gone." With or without a jump-start from the government - for Thomas Gimm, only one thing matters at the moment: job security. But there are fears it could be while before the German economy's engine begins to rev up again.

DW-World | March 3, 2009

Tags:. .livelihoods. .carmaking. .likewise. .uneasy. .anxiously