Opel has temporarily suspended production at two plants in Europe after Germany cuts growth forecast for 2009 ...
Saturday's Bundesliga results ...
German Soccer Squad Defends Post-Euro 2008 Party ... global financial turmoil has decreased the demand for new cars.
Opel confirmed Tuesday, Oct.
7, that it is shutting down production at its Eisenach plant for three weeks.
The company is "feeling the effects of the financial crisis," said Opel spokesman Andreas Kroemer in confirming the temporary closure.
People are "holding on to their money and not ordering cars," Kroemer added.
Opel is a subsidiary of General Motors and is GM's largest European brand.
Layoffs are temporary
The mass-market
Bild newspaper on Tuesday said 6,500 workers would be temporarily laid off at facilities in Eisenach and Bochum.
Around 5,000 workers at the Bochum plant were already out of work starting last week, but the company has said production will resume next week.
Some 1,800 employees in Eisenach will temporarily be laid off as of next week.
Opel reportedly wants to make 40,000 fewer vehicles between now and the end of the year. According to
Bild , Opel is also looking at whether to suspend work at its Spanish factory as well as two sites in England.
(Deutsche Welle)
more info >>
<< Back