German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, has welcomed General Motors‘ decision to plough EUR4bn (US$5.22bn) into its German operations, although is appearing to steer clear of its controversial intention to shutter the Bochum plant early.
GM’s European division, Opel, says it will close the Bochum plant in 2014, when Zafira Tourer production ends, following a move by the plant’s employees to reject a labour deal that would have kept the plant operational as a components producer.
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A spokesman for Angela Merkel in Berlin confirmed to just-auto the Bochum plant closure was not mentioned by the Chancellor following discussions with GM CEO, Dan Akerson, when both met in the German capital last week, although she did hail the investment news.
“She is glad about the [financial] engagement of General Motors in Germany, especially the EUR4bn investment,” the spokeswoman told just-auto from Berlin.
“She is very hopeful about the level of investment [from] Opel.”
Akerson brought with him a delegation of GM senior management to meet the Chancellor and head of the Federal Chancellery, Ronald Pofalla, with the meeting provoking memories of the US automaker’s decision not to sell Opel to a consortium led by Magna International that was ditched at the 11th hour in 2009 and which was apparently backed by the German government.
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By GlobalDataAkerson also used the German trip to convene a meeting of his board as well as meet economists, union leaders and politicians.
A large part of the EUR4bn investment is going into what GM describes an an ‘Opel model offensive,’ with the automaker claiming it will introduce 23 new models and 13 further powertrains by 2016.
“The board of directors is here to underline its solidarity and support,” said Opel supervisory board chairman, Steve Girsky.
“Opel has been part of GM since 1929 and is today more than ever a decisive element for the entire company’s innovative power.”
