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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Four countries share new GM Astra | Four countries share new GM Astra |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The work to build General Motors' new Astra model is to be shared by plants in Poland, Germany, Sweden and the UK. | The work to build General Motors' new Astra model is to be shared by plants in Poland, Germany, Sweden and the UK. |
| In the UK, where GM trades as Vauxhall, the new Astra will be manufactured in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, from 2010. | In the UK, where GM trades as Vauxhall, the new Astra will be manufactured in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, from 2010. |
| The move safeguards the survival of the site, which has long been threatened with closure. The loser is Belgium, which also used to make the Astra. | The move safeguards the survival of the site, which has long been threatened with closure. The loser is Belgium, which also used to make the Astra. |
| US group General Motors has been struggling against mounting losses and rising competition from Asian firms. | US group General Motors has been struggling against mounting losses and rising competition from Asian firms. |
| The Astra is GM's best-selling car in Europe, selling almost half a million vehicles last year. On the continent, the cars are sold under the Opel brand. | The Astra is GM's best-selling car in Europe, selling almost half a million vehicles last year. On the continent, the cars are sold under the Opel brand. |
| GM Europe president Carl-Peter Forster made the announcement following talks with worker representatives in Belgium. | GM Europe president Carl-Peter Forster made the announcement following talks with worker representatives in Belgium. |
| Winners and losers | Winners and losers |
| A total of 3bn euros (£2bn) will be invested in the Astra project across Europe, while the UK operations are also expected to get a government grant. | A total of 3bn euros (£2bn) will be invested in the Astra project across Europe, while the UK operations are also expected to get a government grant. |
| The decision to base Astra production at the UK site will lead to the equivalent of an entire production shift - corresponding to about 1,400 jobs - being abolished at the company's factory in Antwerp. | The decision to base Astra production at the UK site will lead to the equivalent of an entire production shift - corresponding to about 1,400 jobs - being abolished at the company's factory in Antwerp. |
| By contrast, it will lead to a shift being reinstated at the group's site in Merseyside - a move that was warmly welcomed by the government and union leaders. | By contrast, it will lead to a shift being reinstated at the group's site in Merseyside - a move that was warmly welcomed by the government and union leaders. |
| Other sites that will be working on the new "compact" car model will be Bochum in Germany, Gliwice in Poland and Sweden's Trollhattan factory. | Other sites that will be working on the new "compact" car model will be Bochum in Germany, Gliwice in Poland and Sweden's Trollhattan factory. |
| GM Europe has cut about 12,000 jobs since 2005 as part of efforts to make regional operations profitable again. | GM Europe has cut about 12,000 jobs since 2005 as part of efforts to make regional operations profitable again. |
| The operation only returned to the black last year for the first time since 1999, making a profit of $227m (£116m). | The operation only returned to the black last year for the first time since 1999, making a profit of $227m (£116m). |
| Parent company GM itself has closed 12 plants in North America and cut more than 34,000 jobs in a bid to cut $9bn from operating costs after unveiling a $10.6bn net loss for 2005. | Parent company GM itself has closed 12 plants in North America and cut more than 34,000 jobs in a bid to cut $9bn from operating costs after unveiling a $10.6bn net loss for 2005. |
| Wirral South MP Ben Chapman, who has nearly 300 constituents employed at the Ellesmere Port plant, said it was "great news for the local and regional economy". | |
| "And of course I am delighted for my constituents and their families whose livelihood comes from working at Vauxhall," he added. | |
| "Contrary to much apparent doom and gloom elsewhere in the industry, this secures a bright future for car manufacturing in Merseyside and Cheshire." |