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GM is moving production of its new Astra model from its Antwerp, Belgium plant to four plants in the UK, Germany, Sweden and Poland for 2010.

The OEM will invest €3.1 billion in the Astra replacement, which starts production in 2010. But GM wants to improve productivity by 30 per cent.

Antwerp will lose the Astra and 1,400 production workers could lose their jobs at the plant – roughly 30 per cent of the 4,500 people who build the current model.

GM Europe president Carl-Peter Forster said: “Regardless of future product allocations, current production at Antwerp will decrease this year in line with the lifecycle decline in demand for the current car.”

GM Belgium is in talks with unions. A strike by workers may have persuaded GM not to close the factory in 2010, however.

The OEM has offered to introduce two unspecified models, possibly Chevrolets after Astra production is transferred.

GM is unlikely to change its mind. “The decision has been based on capacity planning, brand and market. Our European plants are very close in terms of the various measures of performance, such as cost, productivity and quality,” said Forster.

But the European Metalworkers Federation (EMF), the umbrella organisation representing the three striking labour groups wants to secure jobs at the site until 2016.

“We were offered a capacity of up to 120,000 and two models, but we do not have any guarantees yet,” said EMF general secretary Peter Scherrer.

Antwerp’s current annual capacity is around 220,000.