The new generation Astra and Zafira will both be produced in Bochum, Germany.
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Carl-Peter Forster, head of GM Europe, made the announcement at a works meeting in Bocum on Saturday, reported dpa-AFX.
Forster added that Opel’s component plant at Kaiserslautern is still up for sale.
Employment volumes at the plant could rise after a sale as the components could also be sold to a third party.
Opel previously sold off its tool making operations at Bochum to the Austrian firm, TCM, and this had the same effect.
“The contracting out of jobs at Bochum did not lead to job losses,” he said. To keep outsourced parts production and suppliers in Bochum, the town council launched an initiative called “Bochum 2015”.
The model changeover at Bochum will take place in 2010/2011, starting with the Astra. The Zafira should be added later, as well as the Astra Caravan and an additional Astra model.
Forster said he is expecting the new cars to be produced with fewer employees.
“The pressure is huge,” said Forster, referring to international competition in the automotive industry.
