Paris - Prime Minister Robert Golob expressed concern about the situation at Revoz, the Renault-owned car assembly plant in Novo Mesto, having met with the management prior to his talks Thursday with French President Emanuel Macron.

"I was shocked," he said after today's talks with Macron about learning that Revoz had reduced its headcount from 3,500 to 1,500 between 2020 and April this year, which had not received much public attention.

Revoz downsized its workforce due to supply problems and the discontinuation of the assembly of the Smart FourFour model in Novo Mesto, which cut the plant's daily output by almost two-thirds.

The workforce did not shrink any further after April and the management said the number would remain stable until the end of the year, according to the prime minister.

For the Revoz management the main problem is not knowing what the company's future will be, he said.

Asked whether the future of Revoz was discussed with Macron, he said that "one does not speak about matters which leaders discuss tete-a-tete."

The French state has a 15% stake in Renault and exerts significant influence on the company.