Opel will keep its factory in Eisenach open and put a new model in there from 2013, CEO Nick Reilly said after a meeting with Thuringia’s prime minister Christine Lieberknecht who refused to comment on whether state aid was discussed at the talks, according to Financial Times Deutschland.

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Eisenach, where the B-segment Corsa is built, is one of the Opel plants that was rumoured to be on the shortlist for closure along with Bochum, also in Germany, and Antwerp in Belgium. Closure of the Antwerp plant was announced last month, prompting angry protests from Opel unions in Belgium and Germany.


The workforce at Eisenach, currently on short-time working, will be reduced because Opel will not hire new staff to replace those who retire.


But there will be new investment there from 2013 when production of two undisclosed new models will start.

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