Opel Could End Astra Output in Germany

General Motors Co.'s Adam Opel unit is considering a plan to cease production of the Astra compact car at its factory in Russelsheim, Germany, by 2015, according to Opel labor chief Wolfgang Schaefer-Klug.

Klug says Opel may build the next-generation Astra only at plants in Ellesmere Port, England, and Gliwice, Poland. He declares that ending German output of the Astra would be a "disastrous mistake."

GM has been widely expected to close the U.K. assembly plant and another in Bochum, Germany, in 2015 as part of its as-yet-undisclosed Opel restructuring plan.

Opel CEO Karl-Friedrich Stracke says the company presented its compact-car strategy to its European labor unions and will decide where to build the future Astra. He implies Opel is seeking labor concessions at the Russelsheim facility, saying the company expects further efficiency improvements that would lead to additional investments.

Opel notes that the Astra is a relatively small part of the output at Russelsheim: 18,300 units last year compared with 149,800 Opel Insignia and 12,600 Buick Regal sedans. German labor leaders say GM might shift all of the work from its smaller assembly plant in Bochum, Germany, to make full use of the larger Russelsheim facility and close the Bochum factory.