Thousands of German Opel workers staged a walkout to protest against GM's plans to keep hold of European units Opel and Britain's Vauxhall.
GM had planned for months to sell Opel to Canadian auto parts maker Magna. Workers are angry at the change of plan - as they fear GM will now start making big job cuts.
"What we know from General Motors isn't a good solution. We only know their shrinkage concept and we won't give away our money for that," says Christel Johann, protesting Opel worker.
Johann’s view is backed-up by the head of the Opel works council.
"I know that General Motors' traditional method is to cut investments and scrap models, which is exactly what brought Opel to the brink of collapse. It's not Opel that's the problem - it's General Motors," Klaus Franz, head of Opel works council.
Around half of Opel's 50 000 European staff work in Germany. Like Magna, GM is planning to cut around a fifth of Opel's staff.
It's said the European unit faces insolvency if workers don't agree to cut costs and if countries with Opel plants - like Germany, Britain, Spain and Belgium - don't contribute to its €3 billion euro restructuring plan.
But not all staff are striking - British Vauxhall workers seemed pleased with GM's change of heart.
And British Business Secretary Peter Mandelson says GM's decision will end up benefiting European taxpayers.
Reuters