Opel/Vauxhall CEO Nick Reilly said potential bidders for the Antwerp factory could be announced next week.

Speaking to just-auto at the Paris show on the day the deadline for formal bidding ended, Reilly confirmed two possible investors had come forward who were keen to continue car production at the plant, which Opel had planned to close.

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“We are coming down to two,” Reilly said, adding: “From [our] perspective, we want to be out of Antwerp by the end of the year. If we don’t get a successful bid, we will increase our focus on other types of investors.”

Reilly highlighted the role of the French government and Opel unions in taking “an active role” in the discussions, which he said had seen Opel spend a sizeable amount of money to resolve the issue.

Half of the Antwerp plant workers have already left with the remaining 50% scheduled to leave by December this year.

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