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GM Reassures Workers At European Unit

General Motors Co.'s chief executive has told workers at the struggling Opel unit that there are signs the company's effort to turn around its European operation is starting to work. GM is trying to make its European business profitable after years of losses.

BERLIN (AP) -- General Motors Co.'s chief executive has told workers at the struggling Opel unit that there are signs the company's effort to turn around its European operation is starting to work.

GM is trying to make its European business profitable after years of losses. Opel said Thursday GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson attended an employee meeting at its headquarters in Ruesselsheim, near Frankfurt.

Akerson said GM "needs a strong presence in Europe." It is pinning hopes in part on new models such as the Mokka small SUV and the Adam small car.

Akerson pointed to cost-cutting efforts and said "there are several positive signs that demonstrate that our corporate plan is starting to work." He added that the company is "not counting on a tailwind from the markets."

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