The plant at Bochum is in danger of closing down, and would cease to build Zafira vans by the end of 2014, as soon as the labor agreement runs out. General Motors Company (NYSE: GM )'s interim European Chief, Stephen Girsky wrote in a letter to employees, "The situation on the European market is still disastrous." He also called on employees to contribute in cutting costs while at the same time ruling out wage increases as long as they continue losing money on the region. Opel Works Council Leader Wolfgang Schaefer-Klug responded by describing as "unacceptable" the threat to close Bochum and saying that the union would "never agree to permanent wage cuts." A weakening Germany and a slow auto market in Europe would be the greatest challenges to GM's turnaround plan.