Union Says GM Sabotaged Antwerp Sale

GM continues the winding down process of the Antwerp plant, while rumors regarding a potential sale of the production site still emerge. However, a workers' union said GM sabotaged the selling process of the factory and, although they were bids, the US-based manufacturer refused talks with the interested parties.

In an interview for just-auto.com, European Works Council vice chairman Rudi Kennes said that GM has received at least one offer for the Belgium factory but the company has absolutely no interest in continuing car production in the country.

"There was still one potential investor - the so-called Chinese investor," he said. "GM is denying their offer and is refusing to have further talks with them. It is quite clear they [GM] didn't only want to close down the Antwerp plant but they also have an interest to say there is no continuation of car manufacturing in Antwerp on that site."

"They [GM] are also dragging their feet to talks with the Port Authority and the Flemish government to sell the plant and buildings. They have a clear agenda and it was very clear to us from the beginning - from day one they wanted to sabotage the whole process."

An Opel spokesman however refused to comment on the matter and emphasized that the parent company will go on with the plant closure and production is scheduled to go offline at the end of the year.

"There is no investor yet - there is nothing to announce - we do not talk about these talks with possible investors," the Opel spokesman said. "It is a process of phasing out production - Astra Classic production will go to Bochum - [it] will be able to cope with the extra amount of vehicles."