Adam Opel

Adam Opel, founder of the major automotive corporation Opel, was born in Rüsselsheim, Germany, in 1838. Initially, no one imagined his name would become a famous car marque. A determined young man, he travelled widely around Europe. In Paris, sewing machines fascinated him, and he began learning how to manufacture them. At twenty-five, he opened a factory in his hometown to make the first German sewing machines.

In 1868, he married Sophie Marie Scheller. They had five sons: Wilhelm, Carl, Heinrich, Ludwig and Friedrich. As the boys grew up, they joined the family business. They loved bicycles, but production had not yet been established in Germany. In the mid-1880s, Opel expanded and began selling bicycles assembled entirely in Germany.

A quarter of a century after its foundation, Opel had become an international business, supplying sewing machines to Russia, Europe, the United States and India. Series production of bicycles began in 1887, and Opel eventually became the world’s largest bicycle manufacturer.

When Adam died in September 1895, the company led European sewing-machine sales and produced over 2,000 bicycles annually. His death did not seriously disrupt the family business: his sons continued expanding successfully. Long interested in self-propelled carriages, they entered the new automotive industry with their mother’s support. The first Opel car appeared in 1899.

Building manufacturing experience and developing production methods had taken thirty-seven years. Although Adam died before the first Opel car was assembled, his sons fulfilled his plans by making cars accessible to as many people as possible.