Adam Opel, the founder started his firm in Hessen, Germany in 1862 by making sewing machines, then bicycles in 1886 and finally its first car in 1899.
It became the subsidiary of General Motors (USA) in 1931.
In India, Opel started by making the Astra, Corsa and the Vectra in their plant at Halol, Gujarat but the brand has since then winded up.