FACTBOX-GM Opel's sites and staff in Europe

May 29 (Reuters) - Auto parts maker Magna International (MGa.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) took pole position in the battle for General Motors' GM.N German unit Opel on Friday.

Below is a summary of the main factories building Opel cars in Europe. Adam Opel GmbH -- being spun off with Vauxhall Motors of the UK -- is an integral part of the U.S. carmaker's GM Europe subsidiary, which also produce vehicles under the Cadillac, Saab and Chevrolet brands.

RUESSELSHEIM, Germany: About 15,600 employees assembled roughly 120,000 vehicles last year at Opel's headquarters. The factory built the Vectra and Signum models as well as the new Insignia. The site also houses a technical centre that carries out research and development for the entire GM group.

BOCHUM, Germany: A staff of some 5,200 produced close to 200,000 Astra compacts and Astra-based Zafira vans last year in Germany's traditional coal-mining district, which has been grappling with high unemployment for years. Under the original Magna plan, some 2,200 jobs were at risk, according to German politicians.

EISENACH, Germany: About 1,800 workers assemble 3-door Corsa subcompacts at the plant, which was inaugurated in 1992 as a hallmark project to revive eastern Germany's decrepit industrial structure.

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany: About 3,500 employees manufacture four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines and components in a plant situated in Rhineland-Palatinate. Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne had flip-flopped over the issue of its closure.

ZARAGOZA, Spain: The factory built 423,000 vehicles last year, consisting of 5-door Corsas, the Meriva minivan based on Corsa architecture, and the Combo delivery van.

GLIWICE, Poland: Built about 170,000 vehicles last year, mainly Zafiras as well as Astras, making it a chief rival of Bochum for production volume.

ANTWERP, Belgium: Some 133,000 Astras were built in the Flemish plant, often considered to be one of the top candidates for closure.