GM set to use European plants for Chevrolet production

US automotive giant General Motors will use its European plants to make non-Opel brands such as Chevrolet for the first time.

The Detroit-based group, which is keen to stem losses at its European arm, wants to use spare manufacturing capacity, Steve Girsky, GM Europe’s president said this week.
 
Speaking in Poland, Mr Gresky said: “General Motors Europe did one million cars last year, it is the third largest car maker in Europe and employs 37,400 people with 11 plants. Yes, there is spare capacity but we can produce non-Opel-Vauxhall models,”

Chevrolet’s European sales volumes are getting to the stage where local build is coming under consideration.

The move is unlikely to lead to Chevrolet cars rolling off the production line at the Vauxhall plant at Ellesmere Port, where around 3,000 people work.

There may though be an indirect gain for the region though. If, for example, Chevrolet went into production at other European plants, greater numbers of the next generation Astra could be made at Ellesmere Port.