Adam Opel’s company was based in Rüsselsheim and began by producing sewing machines and bicycles.  When he died in 1895, his family bought the rights for the Lutzmann automobile, their first car being badged Opel-Lutzmann.  By the 1920’s Opels had become the first German car to be mass-produced and in 1929, General Motors acquired the company.  After WW II, Opel and Vauxhall models were rationalized into one range across Europe.  In 2017 General Motors sold both Opel and Vauxhall to Groupe PSA.