Opel boss Nick Reilly today presented a plan for the future of the ailing General Motors unit, with a forecast loss of 8,300 jobs from a total of around 50,000, as expected.
Fewer than half the cuts, or 3,911, would take place in Germany, Reilly said, while confirming the shut down of a plant in Antwerp, Belgium with the loss of 2,377 jobs.
Spain would also be affected with the loss of 900 jobs, while more than 500 were slated to be cut in Britain.
Reilly said that according to a study by independent auditors - demanded by German authorities - 'the plan is financially sound and offers a realistic roadmap to renewed business success'.
Opel needs €3.3 billion euros to finance its rescue plan, and hopes to get €2.7 billion of it from countries where Opel and its British sister brand Vauxhall have operations.
German Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle and British Business Minister Peter Mandelson said at a joint press conference Friday that they would carefully consider any appeal for aid immediately after a business plan had been presented.
GM had initially decided to sell Opel/Vauxhall but changed its mind after its own rescue by the US government, and has decided to turn the European unit around itself.
