Today's other stories in brief
GM to present Opel's job-cutting plans to unions
GENERAL MOTORS will present union leaders at Opel with a reorganisation plan today that envisions cutting nearly a fifth of the workforce, GMs' acting European head said.
The plan calls for eliminating between 9,000 and 9,500 jobs, GM’s Nick Reilly told reporters yesterday. GM has said in the past around 10,000 jobs would go at Opel and its British sister brand Vauxhall.
Reilly said the German plant in Bochum was safe for now. “Bochum remains an important site for us, in the future as well,” he said.
GM has given scant details so far on its €3.3 billion rescue plan for Opel.
GM this month backtracked on plans to sell Opel to a consortium led by carparts firm Magna but is now turning again to European states for help to keep Opel in business.
Mandelson says overcapacity in motor industry
THE BRITISH motor industry faces the two basic problems of decarbonisation and overcapacity, business secretary Lord Mandelson said yesterday. Speaking at an automotive summit in London he said the motor industry was suffering from “longer-term structural overcapacity – an overhang of productive capacity that is probably 20 per cent higher than demand”.
He said that the British government’s car scrappage scheme had stimulated the motor industry and generally had helped the economy.
However, he again ruled out a further extension of the scrappage scheme and he said the motor industry was introducing some “very attractive models”. On the question of the new business plan being drawn up by General Motors and any possible UK Government support for Vauxhall Lord Mandelson said: “The business plan needs to contain good news for Vauxhall in the UK if they are to get good taxpayers’ money.” Asked if the Government was prepared to provide money, Lord Mandelson replied: “Of course we are.” Although he would not say what sort of sums might be involved.
McLaren P11 for spring launch
WINTER TEST season has started again in earnest up in northern Scandinavia and an early arrival is the new McLaren P11 (pictured above by Automedia), due to be unveiled in spring and go on sale at the start of 2011. This is McLaren’s replacement for the SLR and a serious Ferrari competitor for the new 458 Italia.
A successor to the legendary McLaren F1 is also reportedly in the works. No specific details have been released, but current speculation calls for the lightweight supercar to be powered by a Mercedes- sourced V8 putting out around 550bhp, possibly hooked up to an F1-style quick-change transmission.
