No assembling of "astra" in Serbia - "Opel" gave up project

- "General Motors" has, most probably, given up production of "Opel" models in Serbia – the authorized people in Belgrade and Kragujevac estimated.

The contract on business-technical cooperation between "General Motors" and "Zastava" was signed in mid-2007. According to that contract, two “Opel” models were supposed to be produced in the units of "Zastava’s" automobile factory. Assembling of "astra classic 2" was supposed to start prior to the end of this year. However, following the signing of the contract with "Fiat", the managers of this Italian company insisted that no other models except its own should be produced in the new factory.

In mid-November, the authorized people in the Government of Serbia offered six new locations in Belgrade, Sombor and Kragujevac for assembling of “Opel” models to the managers of "General Motors", but GM did not provide any response within the agreed time. Therefore, it is most likely that GM gave up further realization of the contract. According to that contract, “Opel” was supposed to sell 8,300 “astra classic” automobiles in Serbian market. However, “Opel” has, so far, sold over 5,000 automobiles of the kind.

Unofficially, the representatives of "General Motors" announced at the negotiations last month that they would take the offer with new locations into consideration, but they also said that those new locations required large investments, which had not been the case with the assembling in "Zastava’s" automobile factory. "Astra classic 2" was supposed to be produced at the line for production of "punto".

"Zastava" has formed special company "Zastava AGEM" in order to realize the contract with GM. This company has not been privatize, but it does not own halls, so that it was unable to organize production of "astra".

The CEO of this company, Zoran Stošić, said to "Novosti" that the contracted parties would not suffer any consequences following the breaking of the contract with GM.