The deal struck with Canadian car parts manufacturer Magna with General Motors, to buy the European Vauxhall and Opel units, is likely to come at a higher price than anticipated for the companies workers across Europe.
That is all except Germany where job losses are in line with what was first estimated when Magna made their bid for the Opel business. Magna appear to have agreed a deal with the German government that will see a pre agreed figure of around 2,600 job losses in the country with the guarantee of keeping all four of its plants open.
Opel employ 25,000 workers in Germany and the deal has been seen as a victory for chancellor Angela Merkel, as the country nears a General Election.
There are however, no such guarantees for other factories throughout Europe where Opel employ around 30,000 workers and the company are looking to reduce that figure by around 8,000.
British unions have expressed concern about the long-term future of Vauxhall’s 5,500 UK workers and its two British plants in Luton and Ellesmere Port.
Spain’s Zarragoza plant is also under threat as Magna have suggested moving some of the production to Germany.
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