JOB losses at Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant could be “significantly less” than was initially feared, it has emerged.

The majority of the 9,000 job cuts at Vauxhall and Opel plants are expected to come from the European mainland.

Vauxhall and Opel chief executive Nick Reilly confirmed the numbers after meeting union representatives from all plants at the car giant’s Russelsheim factory, in Germany, yesterday.

He said no final decision had been taken and further consultations were planned, but he said capacity across Europe would be cut by about 20%, and up to 60% of the job cuts would come in Germany.

A sizeable portion of the remainder could come from Opel’s Antwerp plant, in Belgium.

Mr Reilly revealed a working party had been set up to discuss options for Antwerp “because the future of that plant is uncertain.”

Canadian car parts maker Magna – which was in the driving seat to buy the European business from US owner General Motors (GM) before a spectacular U-turn by the company on November 3 reversed the decision – had warned that up to 800 jobs could be lost at Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant which makes the Astra model as part of a restructuring.

But, now that the European business has been retained by GM, it is believed any cuts at the Cheshire site could be significantly less.