Fueled by export sales, Opel Polska boosting production

The Opel plant in Gliwice, producer of Astra Classic and Agila, plans to reach full production capacity of 150,000 cars yearly in 2001. By the end of this year the factory will have produced 60,000 vehicles more than last year. Most of the production from Gliwice is being exported to Western and Central European countries. About 30% of total Astra production is exported to the Czech Republic, Turkey, Hungary and Slovakia. Germany, France and Italy receive 95% of Agila exports. According to Opel officials, the current downslide on the domestic car market will not affect production in Gliwice thanks to these robust export sales. "The assembly line is constructed in such a way that we can adjust it according to market demand," said Wojciech Osos of Zaklad Opel Polska in Gliwice. The company plans to produce about 50,000 Astra's and 100 thousand Agila's yearly beginning in 2001.(Puls Biznesu, p. 12