GENERAL Motors has opened its first all-new engine factory in Germany. The site, in the town of Kaiserlauten in the south-west of the country, will build both 120bhp and 150bhp versions of the 1.9-litre common-rail diesel engine, previously made at the Italian Pratola Serra plant.

The new factory will also build a 100bhp version of the engine for continental Europe.

A spokesman said: ‘The high-performance fuel-efficient engine, which is Euro IV compliant when equipped with a diesel particulate filter, is available in a number of cars including the new Zafira, new Astra, Astra Sport Hatch, Vectra and Signum, as well as the Saab 9-3 TiD.’