Opel/Vauxhall parent General Motors has mounted a spirited defence of its subsidiary’s disappointing fourth quarter performance that saw the European automaker post negative numbers.

Insisting that backing Opel/Vauxhall with financial support from the US showed a “vote of confidence,” GM very publicly made a show of support for its Europe operation at today’s (1 March) opening day of the Geneva Motor Show.

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“We continue to fund not only losses – no big deal – that is the obligation of a parent – but we have funded the development of new products,” said GM chairman Dan Akerson, flanked by Opel/Vauxhall chairman Nick Reilly.

“That is a vote of confidence – we are working well together as a corporation and team.”

Opel/Vauxhall has endured a torrid past 12 months with some painful restructuring seeing the culling of staff as well as the shuttering of its Astra-producing site in Antwerp – a development that led to increasingly strained industrial relations as closure last December approached.

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“Dan Akerson hit the nail on the head…it was not just the money it was the statement that was made,” said Reilly. “The clouds above Opel/Vauxhall have lifted and people don’t ask any more are we going to survive? During the next year or so, we will be rewarded for our patience.”

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The two CEOs appearance together today in Geneva was something of a surprise – the event had been billed as Akerson only – but the GM chief made references several times to his support for the Opel/Vauxhall division.

“It has been reported I am impatient,” said Akerson. “Any time you are losing money he [Reilly] is impatient too. We are all on the same page with what we want to accomplish – our goal is to break even, less restructuring costs.

“We have demonstrated a fair degree of optimism with Opel/Vauxhall – I hope our patience is rewarded – there is a steady hand at the helm here.”