The lightning-bolt symbol in the Opel emblem is traditionally called the Blitz.
“Blitz” is the German word for “lightning,” and the name connects Opel’s emblem with the brand’s long association with speed, electricity, and modern engineering. The lightning bolt became especially recognizable after Opel introduced vehicles and commercial products carrying the Blitz identity.
The emblem developed through several redesigns. Earlier Opel badges used forms including an eye, a zeppelin, and other circular motifs before the bolt inside a ring became the dominant modern design. The ring-and-bolt arrangement is therefore a brand emblem, not simply a generic lightning icon.
A common mix-up is confusing the Opel Blitz emblem with the Blitz truck name. Opel Blitz was also the name of a major Opel commercial-vehicle range, particularly associated with trucks produced from the 1930s. The word “Blitz” in both cases refers to lightning and reinforces the same German-language brand tradition.