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Shock everywhere in Rüsselsheim: 287 jobs in danger due to Segula insolvency!
In Rüsselsheim, Segula will close testing facilities on October 31st, resulting in 287 layoffs and an uncertain future for employees.
Shock everywhere in Rüsselsheim: 287 jobs in danger due to Segula insolvency!
In a sad turn of events, the Segula Technologies GmbH test center in Rodgau-Dudenhofen will close its doors at the end of the month. As the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported, Opel partner Segula will stop operating its test facilities in Rüsselsheim and Rodgau-Dudenhofen on October 31st. This decision affects around 330 jobs.
The number of employees laid off could rise worryingly high: of the 287 employees who will be laid off at the end of the month, around 85 are based directly at the Dudenhofen test center. A small team will remain until the end of the year to support the process. A transfer company is being set up for 82 employees in Dudenhofen to offer them a perspective like this op-online.de highlights.
The background to the bankruptcy
The insolvency of Segula Technologies GmbH, which is part of a French company, was not entirely unexpected. The company has not found an investor for the affected test facilities and the test business is now being wound up. Segula Germany boss Holger Jené expressed regret about the developments and expressed his thanks to the employees and partners. According to reports, the workforce at the site has been reduced from 700 to around 330 people, which only exacerbates the tense situation.
The Dudenhofen test center itself has a long history. Opened in 1966 by Adam Opel AG, it includes a 1.6 km long high-speed track and 60 km of test tracks for a wide range of requirements. This makes it one of the most important facilities for the automotive industry in Germany. Daniel Bremm, managing director of IG Metall Darmstadt, warns of impending unemployment if no investor is found.
Outlook and reactions
For many of the affected employees, the next few weeks are crucial. IG Metall is calling for comprehensive support through the establishment of a transfer company in order to make the layoffs more lenient. The creditors' meeting is scheduled for December 2nd in Darmstadt, but the future of the test center remains uncertain. Political representatives of the SPD district association visited the test center in August without having any idea that bankruptcy would soon become a reality.
The test center belongs to the international car company Stellantis, and Segula was the operator. The future of Segula Technologies GmbH lies in the hands of the administrators, who cannot provide any information about the further development of the test center.
It remains to be seen how the situation will develop further. Given the urgent need for skilled workers in the automotive industry and Segula's planned job advertisement for 200 new employees in spring 2024, the upcoming layoffs are a radical cut and raise questions about long-term strategy.