General Motors works 'aggressively' to solve European woes The lack of detail from GM will provide little comfort to those GM employees in Europe, including those in Britain, who may fear for their jobs. With little evidence that demand in Europe is picking up, speculation has shifted to how GM could lower its cost base on the continent. Brian Johnson, a car analyst at Barclays Capital, said that GM's Ellesmere Port plant near Chester, which makes the Vauxhall, and a plant in Bochum in Germany may be vulnerable. GM has already eliminated about 5,800 jobs in Europe, and the team that covers the car industry at Morgan Stanley have estimated between 3,000 and 5,000 more could follow. GM's dilemma echoes that facing other carmakers in Europe. Industry executives, including Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne, have said that a reduction in production capacity and consolidation of companies on the continent is necessary to revive profits. Figures out today from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) offered a reminder that the underlying economy is unlikely to help soon. Registrations in Europe fell 6.6pc to 1.1m in January, the steepest decline since June, according to the ACEA.