U.S. auto-maker General Motors is reportedly losing its patience with its European unit Opel/Vauxhall. Steep losses may now result in factory closures and layoffs, including the Opel factory in Bochum, Germany, according to media reports. The labor conflict could be reminiscent of 2009, when GM elected not to sell Opel.

In 2009, General Motors had a deal in hand to sell its European unit Opel/Vauxhall. But at the very last moment, despite months of negotiations facilitated by the German government, the America automaker backed away, deciding to restructure the company itself. It was a decision that infuriated Berlin and led many in Germany to doubt the company's trustworthiness.

Now, it appears that GM is suffering from a bout of non-seller's remorse. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, the car maker is frustrated with mounting losses at Opel/Vauxhall and is considering significant job cuts and plant closures.

"There is increasing frustration with Opel and a feeling the cuts two years ago did not go nearly deep enough," the paper quotes an unnamed GM official as saying. "If Opel is going to get fixed, it is going to get fixed now and cuts are going to be deep." The official told the newspaper that GM's patience is running out and revealed that, in addition to GM's $580 million worth of losses in the first nine months of 2011, fourth-quarter losses, which will be officially announced next week, were "horrendous."