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General Motors Poland
The history of General Motors in Poland started in 1928, when the Chevrolet assembly plant was opened in Warsaw. The plant produced then 600 cars
a year.

At present, General Motors Poland was registered on 31 May 1991 and from the very beginning developed rapidly: currently Opel sales network in Poland comprises 77 dealer stations and 39 satellite outlets. From all General Motors brands Opel, Chevrolet and Saab are sold on the Polish market.
General Motors Poland started production in Poland in 1994, when the assembly of Opel Astra and, then, of Vectra in 1998, was started in Warsaw. The assembly plant in Warsaw ceased operations in June 2000, after the Opel factory in Gliwice was opened in October 1998. It became the main General Motors production centre in Poland and now it is one of the most modern plants of the corporation in the entire world.
GM has invested in Opel Polska – currently General Motors Manufacturing Poland – over Euro 650 million, and the first model produced by that plant was Astra Classic. Currently two models are produced in Gliwice: a micro van Agila that is produced nowhere else in the world, and, from 3 October 2003, Astra II, a popular compact car. Production of Zafira, the second generation of the popular compact Opel van, will start here in September 2005.
Modern methods of management and production, well-qualified staff, high quality and care for the environment are the chief elements shaping the success of the investment.

The results of the quality of production were confirmed by detailed reports containing clients’ opinions from the most important European markets and by renowned certifying institutions. In 1999 the plant was granted PN-ISO 9002 quality certificate awarded by two independent certifying firms: KBA (Kraftfahrt Bundesamt) from Dresden and PCBC (Polish Research and Certification Centre) from Warsaw. Meeting the requirements of the above standard was then confirmed in the subsequent years 2000 and 2001 during control audits performed by these institutions. Moreover, in 2004 Agila placed second on Auto TÜV ranking list.

Production in Opel Polska plant is conducted with utmost care for the natural environment. Fully ecological solutions are employed, among others, in the Paint Unit that was designed and built in accordance with the strict environment protection and work safety standards binding in the EU. The bodies of cars are covered with a layer of lead-free anti-corrosion paint of the latest generation, and all base and surface coats are produced in water-solution technology, which means no emission of organic dissolver vapours harmful to the environment. The use of high-class paint robots and the modern waste purification plant operating in the factory help minimise the quantity of waste.
In 2002, the plant received certificates confirming the implementation of Integrated Quality and Environment Protection Management System according to international standards ISO 9001-2001 and ISO 14001.

General Motors Manufacturing Poland is the biggest foreign investment in Katowice Special Economic Area and it employs over 3,000 persons in its plant. During the last five years, 91,6% of the output was exported. Besides exports volumes positively influencing the development of Polish economy, General Motors also contributes to the promotion of Poland as a country friendly to investors. Active cooperation with Polish suppliers resulted in the growth of their number from just 6 in 1997 to 87 now. They supply their products and services not only to Opel plant in Gliwice, but also to other GM units in Europe, North America, Asia or South America. This cooperation helped create several thousand additional jobs.
General Motors’ operations in Poland mean also involvement in numerous social and charity actions. Some examples of them are: building the ”Houses of Hope” in cooperation with the international organisation Habitat for Humanity; a program of educational visits in Opel Polska plant addressed to young people that has already attracted over 4,000 persons; participation in educational program Plato addressed to small and medium-sized enterprises in Silesia region, or the organisation of a big anniversary concert for the inhabitants of Gliwice and neighbouring area.
The successes of General Motors Poland and Opel Polska were confirmed by numerous prestigious awards and distinctions, for example: 1999 Investor for GM Poland and Opel Polska awarded by Polish Business Club, General Motors President’s awards in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003; the distinction ”For Those who Change Polish Industry” in 2000 awarded by Entrepreneurship Development Association; The Economic Award of the President of Poland in the category “2000 Best Foreign Investment in Poland” in 2001 and 2001 Philanthropy granted in 2002 by the Charity Development Academy in Poland; “The best foreign investment in the period 1989-2004” granted by the „Gazeta Prawna” daily. Award presented to people and companies, that influenced the most the Polish economy.