The General Motors factory in Gliwice in Poland is one of the most efficient in the ailing company, but that has not protected it from the downswing in the car industry.

The factory is reducing shifts from three to two this month, and is laying off contract workers. Tony Francavilla, the factory’s general manager, says that until late last year everything was going well, “until the floor fell out from under the market”. He adds that sales of the Zafira model, the factory’s main product, have fallen by about 30 per cent.