More cars for Spanish factories

Opel Mokka.

GENERAL MOTORS plans to move some of its Korea production to Spain. The decision is prompted by strikes and increasing labour costs at the South Korean factories which GM acquired on buying local manufacturer Daewoo in 2002.

Partial stoppages at GM’s four plants in July followed the same pattern as last year’s strikes that cost the company €70 million in lost production.

The Opel Mokka is likely to arrive at the Figueruelas (Zaragoza) plant during the second half of next year. Production will remain partly in Korea and components for the Zaragoza factory will continue to be made there.

Some months ago, GM’s CEO Dan Akerson confirmed that the next generation Chevrolet Cruze would not be made in Korea alongside the Chevrolet Spark.

Spain has already been mentioned as a possible destination for the best-selling Cruze, together with the equally popular Aveo.

GM is now focusing on Chevrolet in Europe after Briton Alan Batey’s appointment as global Chevrolet chief in June.  “We have not done as well as I would have hoped in Western Europe,” Akerson told reporters.  “We have to take a fresh look.” 

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