Clearly the industrial group pendulum moves to Eastern Europe

General Motors is less and less inclined to invest in its sites of Western Europe. Its plant in Azambuja, 50 km from Lisbon, in 1963, is more than ever stay, opened and its 1,100 employees with. The American automobile Group gave five weeks the Portuguese José Socrates Government and employees for proposing cures to production costs too high site, but the cause appears to be heard: its leaders have clearly expressed their intention to transfer to the factory in Zaragoza, in the North of the Spain, the production of the single vehicle, the Combo (74,000 units produced last year).

This possible closure, which will cause this week of work stoppages in several sites in Europe, will not be performed of gaiety of heart. "It is the most difficult decision of my career," recognizes German Carl Peter Forster, President of GM Europe. The plant works well, it is well directed and has made real progress. But it is simply in the wrong place, below the size critical and located away from the growth of the market. "For him, the site of Zaragoza, much larger and more profitable, still has the space sufficient to accommodate the Combo, next to the Meriva and Corsa.

Clearly, the industrial group pendulum moves to Eastern Europe. Carl Peter Forster confirms that it seeks to exploit a second plant in Poland, namely that of the local manufacturer FSO in Warsaw, especially for the needs of its Chevrolet brand "and eventually to assemble a few Opel models". The scheme would be that of a joint venture with AvtoZAZ Ukrainian, has focused

recently acquired FSO.

With an hourly wage of 6 euros per hour, the benefits of the Poland are quickly summarized. And GM needs a drop point in the region for Chevrolet, the ex - GM Daewoo, because, for the time being, all its models are imported from the South Korea. Another folder to the study, the Romanian plant of Craïova, once operated by Citroën, and which today is also interested Renault for the Assembly of the Logan. Carl Peter Forster refused to clarify whether it is an alternative to the Poland or more.

Chronic problems of Saab

His message to the employees of Western Europe is paternalistic. "We are in a tough industry." The competitive landscape has completely changed in recent years: do not ask me to rescue insufficiently efficient sites. "After having suffered losses of $ 375 million (EUR 298 million) last year, GM Europe back the slope, with a profit of $ 88 million in the first quarter of 2006 and an objective of balance on

the year.

Remains also to solve the chronic problems of Saab, which some future models will be made out of Sweden. Are especially program a 4 4 means, which could be called Saab 9-4, a small sedan and the successor of the 9-5 sedan, heralding the stylistic renewal of the mark. "We must produce a day of Saab in the United States," said the head of GM Europe. This would not prevent the Swedish site of Trollhättan to spend two to three assembly lines, with the manufacture of some Cadillac.