Opel 2001 oper loss 674 mln euros

FRANKFURT, Jan 16 (Reuters) - The works council of ailing German carmaker Adam Opel said on Wednesday the carmaker had posted a 2001 operating loss of 674 million euros ($593.8 million) compared with a loss of 502 million a year ago.

According to a statement issued by the works council, the unit of U.S. auto giant General Motors Corp made a net profit of 87 million euros in the full year 2001.

Opel, which has launched a recovery programme involving 2,500 job cuts by 2003, has suffered in recent years from a lacklustre product line up and a failure to embrace new trends among European car buyers such as diesel engines.

The company is scheduled to discuss its 2001 results later on Wednesday.