Opel's Ampera-e electric car will be built in the U.S., report says

FRANKFURT -- Opel's Ampera-e electric car will be built in the U.S. alongside its sibling, the Chevrolet Bolt, a German magazine reported.

General Motors CEO Mary Barra announced last week at an industry conference in Germany that Opel will start selling the Ampera-e in 2017 as a long-range, affordable five-seat electric car.

Neither Barra nor Opel disclosed whether the car would be built in Europe or the U.S.

Automobil Produktion said the Ampera-e will be produced alongside the Bolt at GM's Orion plant near Detroit. Production of the two cars together makes logistical sense since the Ampera-e is essentially a rebadged Bolt, company sources told the magazine.

Opel declined to comment on the report when contacted by Automotive News Europe.

The Chevrolet Bolt has a range of more than 200 miles on a single charge. It will go into production at the end of the year and will cost less than $30,000 in the U.S. after federal tax credits.

GM said last week it would announce further details about the Ampera-e's range and price at a later date.