General Motors’ Opel division has been struggling to keep its head above water for the last several years, but GM may be formulating a new plan to give a boost to the ailing German automaker.
In a bit of irony, GM’s Opel rescue plan could rely heavily on Chevy – a brand that has somewhat displaced Opel in the European market. GM is currently considering moving some Chevy production from Korea to Europe to better utilize Opel’s plants.
According to inside sources, GM is considering shifting production of its Chevrolet Cruze compact to Opel’s plant in Gliwice, Poland. Production at the Gliwice plant – which includes the Opel Astra – would be moved to another Opel plant in western Europe.
The plan could also see production of the Chevy Orlando moved to Opel’s Bochum, Germany plant. The Bochum plant has been long been thought of as the most likely Opel plant to close.
GM currently exports about 250,000 vehicles a year from South Korea to Europe, including its popular Cruze and Orlando models. Production of those models at Opel plants would certainly help the German automaker, but it remains to be seen if the shift would be enough to return Opel to profitability. Opel has lost $13 billion since 1999.
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1.’GM may build…’ view
