Opel hides something in every single car thanks to a designer’s son twenty-one years ago
- One Opel designer hid a surprise in every car
- It all started back in 2004 when a designer’s son had an idea
- It stuck and became an integral part of the company’s culture
Published on Feb 05, 2025 at 5:00 AM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Feb 05, 2025 at 10:22 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
One Opel designer hides a secret in every car that rolls off their production line.
It all started back in 2004 when a designer was tasked with designing reinforcing ribs on the side of the glove box door to ensure its stability.
When he started sketching out shapes for that purpose at home one Sunday his son asked: “Papa, why don’t you just draw a shark?”
“Why not?” he thought – and the Opel shark was born.
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The surprise inside every Opel
Dietmar Finger, who was the Interior Assistant Chief Designer of Opel’s Corsa Studio at the time then ran with his son’s lightbulb moment.
As soon as he was back in the Studio, Finger shared his idea with Chief Designer, Niels Loeb.
He immediately loved it and the shark in the glove box went into series production for the Open Corsa.
From there it spread to models including the Astra, Insignia, and Zafira where they became a signature of the German brand.
We absolutely love an automotive Easter egg.
A part of the company culture
Twenty years on, towards the end of development for each it’s now customary for the Interior Chief Designer to hide one or two of the toothy fish somewhere inside the cabin.
The trickier they are to find the better.
Where the shark is placed is entirely up to the designer and is never shared with leadership.
In fact, where the shark has been hidden is often kept a secret until the launch of the car.
Opel uses the fun aquatic character to demonstrate the approachable side of our brand.
After every launch, it’s a competition for people to find the sharks in the car interior.
Much like the off-road trail coordinates and various characters hidden in Jeeps.
The brand believes the character is a sign of how ‘approachable’ the brand is – and that they have a sense of humor.
London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the experienced content creator and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms and coveted brands. When her OOO is on you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym or exploring the city she loves.
