25 November, 2009
WRAPUP 4-Germany takes brunt of Opel job cuts,Saab in limbo
* GM Europe's Reilly says plans about 9,000 job cuts
* 50-60 pct of Europe job cuts to be in Germany
* Reilly says Antwerp site future uncertain
* Opel labour leaders reject the plan
* Saab future up in the air after sale talks collapse
(Adds comments from GM's Reilly, Opel labour leaders)
By Angelika Gruber and Johan Sennero
RUESSELSHEIM/STOCKHOLM, Nov 25 (Reuters) - General Motors [GM.UL] targeted Germany on Wednesday for the bulk of 9,000 planned job cuts at European arm Opel, turning the tables on the country that lobbied hardest for an Opel sale to Canada's Magna.
At the same, the U.S. automaker cast around for fresh options for Sweden's loss-making Saab after the collapse of its sale to luxury carmaker Koenigsegg added a new dimension to its tortuous European restructuring plans.
GM this month backtracked on months of talks to sell a majority stake in Opel to a Russian-backed group led by Magna International (MGa.TO), opting to revamp the business itself in a 3.3 billion euro ($5 billion) overhaul that needs state aid.
Acting GM Europe head Nick Reilly said 50-60 percent of the proposed job cuts in Opel had been earmarked for Germany.
He said he hoped to wrap up details -- including the "uncertain" future of the Belgian plant in Antwerp -- during talks with labour leaders that he said were unaffected by the turmoil surrounding Saab. [ID:nGEE5AM2I2] [ID:nGEE5AN0ND]
Opel's top union boss, Klaus Franz, accused GM of sacrificing German jobs by shifting production of the Astra Caravan model to Britain's Ellesmere Port plant to secure UK state aid.
He also urged GM to expand the model range and powertrain options and export Opels as a way of saving jobs preventing GM from draining funds from Opel to Detroit.
Reilly said he was optimistic about prospects for getting both labour concessions as well as state aid from countries with Opel plants, which also include Britain, Spain and Poland.
"Upto now, we have had a reasonably good response, not in terms of actual numbers but in terms of willingness, from everybody we've spoken to, including in Germany," he said.
The U.S. automaker emerged from bankruptcy in July and is fighting to redefine itself after crushing debt and legacy costs saw it fall victim to the worldwide auto crisis last year.
Some analysts say the European market in which Opel and Saab operate has as much as 20 percent too much capacity.
SAAB'S UNCERTAIN FUTURE
On Tuesday GM's deal to sell Saab to niche luxury carmaker Koenigsegg, backed by China's BAIC, collapsed after the buyer walked away. [ID:nN2418890]
Trolhattan, Sweden-based Saab has not made a profit since 2001 but Joran Hagglund, state secretary at Sweden's Industry Ministry, said GM appeared to still harbour hope of being able to sell it. [ID:nGEE5AO1EI]
The Swedish government had effectively ruled out a state bailout of the 60-year-old auto brand, saying on Tuesday that a private buyer was the only option for Saab. [ID:nGEE5AN2PR]
GM's board meets next week and the question of what to do with Saab will lead the agenda, a person with direct knowledge of the situation said on Tuesday.
No other bidders have so far emerged, meaning GM's only options would be to restart the sale process or to wind down the business, the more likely option, the person said. [ID:nN2418890]
BAIC, which had been part of the Koenigsegg-led consortium negotiating for Saab, said it was studying its options. Analysts said it was unlikely to bid for the whole of Saab alone, but might buy some of the assets. [ID:nHKG354321]
For a FACTBOX on job cuts, click on [ID:GEE5AO2EQ], for a SCENARIOS on Saab, click on [ID:nGEE5AO17M], for a FACTBOX, click on [ID:nGEE5AN2GW] and for a TIMELINE click on [ID:nnGEE5AO18T]
For a TIMELINE on Opel, click on [ID:nGEE5AN1GQ] and for a graphic on European activities click on the following link: (here)
(Additional reporting by Christiaan Hetzner, Maria Sheahan and Michael Shields in Frankfurst, Nick Vinocur and Simon Johnson in Stockholm and Doug Young in Hong Kong; Writing by Helen Massy-Beresford; Editing by David Cowell) ((helen.beresford@thomsonreuters.com; +33 1 49 49 56 83; Reuters Messaging: helen.beresford.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) ($1=.6708 Euro) ($1=.6643 Euro)
Source: http://www.reuters.com
WRAPUP 4-Germany takes brunt of Opel job cuts,Saab in limbo Added: (25.11.2009)
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