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Port Authority Aiming to Buy Antwerp Opel Plant

Opel's Antwerp plant, still sentenced to death after General Motors decided to close the facility by year end, might have a chance to survive as Port Authority is looking into ways to buy the 900,000 sqm site. Furthermore, representatives of the Antwerp plant said they would be willing to listen to any offers coming from Chinese investors, as long as the Opel facility has a chance to remain alive.

"Yes, we are making a bid [but] there is no timetable as the closing of the plant is not finalised yet," an Antwerp Port Authority spokeswoman told just-auto from Belgium. "The situation of GM within the Port is an extraordinary [one] meaning the Antwerp Port Authority is the owner of 90% of the land."

However, the identity of the potential Chinese buyer remains secret for the moment, although rumors are claiming that even Geely, the Chinese group that took over Ford's Volvo, is also interested in the plant.

"We have heard there is a Chinese investor - that is no secret," a Port Authority spokeswoman was quoted as saying by the aforementioned source. "Since the Chinese are so interested, that is why the procedure is not finished yet - we let the people do all the things they must do in order to save the future of the plant in Antwerp."

"If that means the plant can still exist and if that means that employment can be saved, of course we are happy to have a Chinese investor."

General Motors decided earlier this year to close the Antwerp plant by year end and send the 1,300 workers home, with production of the local models, including the very popular Astra, to be moved elsewhere.
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About the author: Bogdan Popa
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Bogdan keeps an eye on how technology is taking over the car world. His long-term goals are buying an 18-wheeler because he needs more space for his kid’s toys, and convincing Google and Apple that Android Auto and CarPlay deserve at least as much attention as their phones.
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