General Motors slashes 8,300 European jobs

Among the cuts are the closure of an entire plant in Antwerp, Belgium, a casualty of the “tough reality” of a shrinking European car market.

The cuts were a blow for the 2,600 Opel workers in Antwerp and related automotive supply companies that employ 10,000 workers.

Opel head Nick Reilly said that the Antwerp plant had to go because the company needs to shed 20 per cent of its manufacturing capacity since far fewer cars are being sold as a result of the recession.