This development impacts key parts of the former Opel engineering center in Rüsselsheim and the nearby test track in Rodgau-Dudenhofen—both sites historically regarded as central pillars of German automotive development. The Dudenhofen proving ground, operational since the 1960s, has long been a symbol of integrated automotive testing infrastructure and development depth.
For the foundry and supplier industries, this situation sends a clear warning signal: Germany’s once tightly integrated vehicle development ecosystem—especially in the areas of engine, drivetrain, structural components, and chassis engineering—is increasingly being dismantled or relocated abroad. The loss of such local engineering competence threatens to weaken the vertical integration that many German casting and component manufacturers have traditionally relied on.
A spokesperson for Segula cited the ongoing challenging economic conditions in the automotive sector as the reason for the filing, emphasizing the aim of achieving a structured and sustainable reorganization.
Automotive economist Prof. Ferdinand Dudenhöffer offered a sobering analysis: The Rüsselsheim site holds far less strategic importance for Stellantis than many believe. The insolvency of Segula Technologies GmbH is another sign of declining development capabilities in Germany—with serious implications for the entire supplier network.
This raises pressing questions for the foundry and forging sectors: How will the gradual erosion of local development centers affect supplier collaboration, new program launches, and technology partnerships? And how can casting companies reposition themselves in this shifting industrial landscape?
Source: www.segulatechnologies.com
