DETROIT (WKZO) -- General Motors has tapped former Volkswagen China executive Karl Thomas Neumann to head the automaker's Opel division in Europe.  He will take over the post effective March 1st.

Neumann will also be the President of GM operations in Europe and become a Vice President with the automaker.  GM Vice Chairman Steve Girsky said Neumann has a proven track record in growing business in a profitable way.

General Motors has been suffering losses in Europe due to the region's economic slowdown.  They expect to announce a loss of 1.5-billion to 1.8-billion dollars when they release their 2012 earnings report next month.