GM’s Polish Car Plant Expects Lower Production in 2012

VIENNA – General Motors Mfg. Poland, which produces three Opel Astra versions at its plant in Gliwice, Poland, is likely to produce fewer cars in 2012 than last year.

“We know that the first quarter will be down 10% from the same period last year,” Andrzej Korpak, managing director-GMMP, tells Poland’s Rzeczpospolita newspaper. “It is hard to say what the subsequent quarters will bring. I don't expect the situation to improve significantly in the following months.”

“We expect our 2012 production to be about 5% less than last year,” Przemyslaw Byszewski, GM’s spokesman in Poland, tells the Polish news agency PAP.

GMMP produced 173,962 units in 2011, up 9.6% from 2010. The total includes 136,956  Opel Astra IV 5-door hatchbacks, 21,227 Astra III sedans and 15,779 Astra GTC 3-door hatchbacks.

Peak production at the facility was reached in 2007 with 187,007 units. More than 98.6% of last year’s total output was exported.

Production of the new Astra GTC started in October. Volume output of the Astra IV sedan launches in the second half of this year, followed in early 2013 by a convertible based on the Astra platform.

Media are reporting that GM is mulling European production of the Chevrolet Cruze at GMMP. Korpak says no decision has been made yet, but is quoted as saying, “Gliwice seems a logical solution, since no one else can cope with the cost competition from Korea, especially after trade liberalization.”

According to Korpak, Cruze production in Gliwice also would benefit other Opel factories. With the Chevrolet model taking up part of the capacity in Gliwice, the other plants could increase Opel production.

The Solidarnosc union has called on GMMP management to do all it can to bring the Cruze to Gliwice.