WIESBADEN, Germany -- General Motors Co.'s top European official underlined the future importance of Opel's biggest German plant on Wednesday, while reiterating that there likely will be up to 9,500 jobs cut across the continent, according to The Associated Press.

The Ruesselsheim factory in western Germany is not only a manufacturing plant but also a development center for Opel, Nick Reilly said after meeting with the governor of Hesse state, Roland Koch.

The fact that GM Europe is relocating its headquarters from Zurich to Ruesselsheim is "an indication of how important we believe this site will be," Reilly said.