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"In light of the negative experiences of the past years with GM's business strategy, I am very worried about the future of this firm and its jobs," Koch said in a statement distributed Tuesday evening.

He said he expected GM to pay back the 1.5-billion-dollar bridge loan from the German government that is keeping Opel's operations going in Germany "so that the German taxpayer does not suffer the loss."

About half of Opel's 50,000-strong workforce is in Germany.

Sources close to the negotiations in Detroit told the German Press Agency dpa that the board had voted against selling 55 per cent of its European subsidiary to the Canadian-based parts manufacturer Magna.

GM emerged from a giant bankruptcy in record time this summer, with the pledge of 50 billion dollars in help from the US government, which has taken a 60 per cent ownership in the company.//dpa