Global News: Daimler Layoffs, GM Aid From Spain, Fiat Leadership in Brazil
By Michelle Krebs March 13, 2009In news from around the globe Thursday, Germany's Daimler AG announced layoffs at its truck plants, General Motors won financial aid from the Spanish government, and Fiat's long reign as sales leader in Brazil is under threat from Volkswagen.
In Germany, Daimler confirmed plans to lay off temporarily 18,000 workers at its four German truck plants. Their furlough starts in April or May and lasts through the summer. Meantime, the German government has included aid for furloughed workers in its economic stimulus plan.
In Spain, GM of Europe won 200 million Euros ($256 million U.S.) in financial aid from the Spanish government. The money will be used to develop the next-generation Meriva small minivan, which will be built in Zaragoza, Spain, starting in 2010.
Meantime, GM continues to seek 3.3 billion Euros in aid from other European nations, including 2.6 billion Euros from Germany. GM has confirmed it is willing to reduce by more than half its stake in its German subsidiary Opel. GM envisions a cooperative with Opel as it has with its GM Daewoo Technologies joint venture in South Korea.
In Brazil, Fiat's seven-year reign as the sales leader is under threat from Volkswagen. In January and February, VW greatly narrowed Fiat's lead with Fiat selling only 667 more vehicles than VW. Fiat finished 2008 with a 79,000-vehicle lead over VW. Meantime, GM is the third best-seller in Brazil.
Photo by GM/Opel
General Motors displayed a concept version of the next-generation Opel Meriva at last year's Geneva Motor Show.
Compiled by David Green, an Edmunds' senior manager
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