German Opel plant to remain important

DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) - The new head of GM Europe has made clear that the company plans to keep open an Opel plant in Bochum, Germany even as it works to cut some 20 percent of overall capacity.

Nick Reilly says the plant in Bochum "remains an important part of the resources of General Motors in Europe going forward."

He was speaking Tuesday after meeting with the governor of North Rhine-Westphalia state, Juergen Ruettgers.

Reilly did not give details on the future of other German Opel sites.

He is to meet later in the day with the governor of Rhineland-Palatinate state, where Opel also has a plant.

General Motors Co.'s Opel unit, which includes Vauxhall in Britain, employs around 45,000 people in Europe, about 25,000 of them in Germany.