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Peugeot Citroen Workers Protest Plant Closure

PSA Peugeot Citroen workers marched and waved banners to protest the closure of a historic Citroen plant as the factory's last car came off the assembly line Friday.Opened in 1973, the Aulnay-sous-Bois plant is being shut down next year as the money-losing car maker seeks to cut costs.

AULNAY-SOUS-BOIS, France (AP) -- PSA Peugeot Citroen workers marched and waved banners to protest the closure of a historic Citroen plant as the factory's last car came off the assembly line Friday.

Opened in 1973, the Aulnay-sous-Bois plant is being shut down next year as the money-losing car maker seeks to cut costs, part of the conditions of a 572 million-euro ($791 million) lifeline it received from the government.

The last car, a light gray Citroen C3, is the last of over 8.5 million cars built in the history of the factory just outside Paris.

About 1,000 workers remain at the factory but they have virtually stopped working. Goul Abdul, a union member who's worked in Aulnay for 24 years, said "it really hurts. I want to cry sometimes."

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