U.S. auto giant General Motors (GM.UL) Co. said Wednesday it would cut 10,000 jobs from its European operations in Britain and Germany.

GM announced earlier this week it had reversed its early decision to sell its European operations Opel and Vauxhall.

The Wall Street Journal reported that GM's new Chairman Edward Whitacre Jr. has urged the company, pared down by the recession and its bankruptcy process this summer, take a more aggressive stance, pushing the automaker to remain proactive, rather than consider a retreat.

GM put Opel, made mostly in Germany, and Vauxhall, made in Britain, on the block this spring and lined up a buyer, Canadian auto parts supplier Magna International Inc.

The Detroit News reported the job cuts Wednesday.

GM's vice president for corporate planning an alliances John Smith said the decision was "a coin toss." However, the board "has come to understand the role Opel plays in our global product development.

In Germany, the government and unions criticized the strategy despite GM saying the job losses were on par with what Magna had planned.