Opel controversy rumbles on
Friday, 6 November 2009 18:57General Motors Europe head Carl-Peter Forster is reportedly quitting in disgust at GM's decision to hang on to Opel.
A source confirmed a report in the Spiegel magazine, saying: 'I expect a withdrawal by Forster within a week.'
GM executive vice president David Reilly would replace Forster, as GM seeks to soothe anger over its decision this week to abandon a sale of Opel to Canadian group Magna International and Russian partner Sberbank.
Spiegel also reported that Bob Lutz, 77, an industry veteran with vast experience on both sides of the Altantic at BMW, Ford and Chyrsler and currently at GM, would replace Forster as head of Opel's supervisory board.
'I cannot comment,' a spokesman for General Motors Europe and Opel told AFP, adding: 'If there are any personnel decisions we will make a statement on it.'
Mr Forster was a keen supporter of Magna's bid.
Yesterday, GM chief executive Frederick Hendersen told reporters in Detroit that he would pick a new management team for Opel and its British sister brand Vauxhall within 'days or weeks'.
GM has decided to restructure Opel/Vauxhall itself, with the elimination of at least 10,000 jobs and possibly the closure of German factories, a move that has sparked widespread anger in Germany.
Germany is home to about 25,000 Opel workers, roughly half of GM Europe's total workforce, and the government had lobbied hard for Magna's bid in hopes of keeping all the German plants running.
Berlin had promised €4.5 billion in state aid to Magna, angering other European countries where the loss-making Opel has workers because of fears they would bear the brunt of badly needed restructuring.
