French car parts supplier Plastic Omnium is planning to halt the production of auto bumpers at its German Eisenach-Thuringia factory, which also makes fuel tanks and systems.

The company has decided to reduce production due to shrinking car market in Europe and also automakers' own strategic decisions that have led to excess production capacity in Western Europe.

Eisenach-Thuringia plant manufactures bumpers for the Astra model of General Motors' (GM) Opel unit, which is shifting production to Poland and the UK.

Plastic Omnium said it will produce the bumpers at its Polish factory and will maintain other operations in Germany which employ a total of 1,400 people.

In order to offset problems in Europe, Plastic Omnium has been developing production in the Americas, China and India.