German official: GM negotiator says automaker still interested in selling Opel

September 10th, 2009 AP sources: GM recommends Magna for OpelBERLIN — Two German officials have told The Associated Press that General Motors Co. will recommend selling its Opel unit to Canada's Magna International Inc.

September 8th, 2009 GM board meeting could decide Opel fateFRANKFURT — General Motors Co.'s board is beginning a two-day meeting that could see it decide the fate of its German unit Opel, with German business leaders and politicians hoping any solution preserves jobs. GM has two primary bids for the Ruesselsheim-based Adam Opel GmbH, with German officials, Opel workers and unions endorsing one from Canadian auto parts maker Magna International Inc.

August 28th, 2009 Germany: GM decision on Opel probably weeks awayFRANKFURT — Any decision on the fate of General Motors Co.'s European unit Adam Opel GmbH is still probably weeks off, a German government spokesman said Friday. A decision on what GM does with the unit, which includes its British sister brand Vauxhall, would take at least a week and a half, as GM's board is due to meet on Sept.

August 25th, 2009 GM negotiator, German officials meet over OpelBERLIN — General Motors Co. made clear during a meeting with German government representatives Tuesday that it is still interested in selling the automaker's European Opel unit, a German official said.

July 29th, 2009 GM exec: No preferred bidder for Opel yetBERLIN — The chief negotiator for General Motors Co. says there is no preferred bidder for Germany's Opel — though the negotiations are "coming to a point of decision." John Smith, GM's group vice president and chief negotiator on the sale of Opel, writes in the company's blog that "despite media reports to the contrary, GM has NOT specified its preference for a bidder." Smith's post said that GM is still in talks with a consortium of Magna International Inc.

July 22nd, 2009 German gov't begins reviewing Opel offersFRANKFURT — The German government has begun reviewing offers for General Motors Co.'s Opel unit, officials said Wednesday, though its decision and the details of a deal are not expected soon. A government official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not permitted to talk to the media about the deals, said that GM and government officials were meeting in Berlin.

June 5th, 2009 Fiat still interested in OpelMILAN — Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne said Friday that the Italian automaker hasn't given up on Germany's Opel, even though a tentative Opel takeover deal by rival bidders Magna International Inc. and Russia's Sberbank was moving ahead.

May 12th, 2009 MOSCOW - Russian automaker GAZ Tuesday officially confirmed its interest in forming a joint venture with German-based Opel and the Austrian-Canadian auto-parts supplier Magna International. 'The GAZ group is hoping for further cooperation with Opel and Magna in the building of a competitive passenger car for Russia and other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS),' said Yelena Matveyeva, deputy chairwoman of GAZ's board of directors.

May 12th, 2009 MOSCOW - Russian automaker GAZ Tuesday officially confirmed its interest in forming a joint venture with German-based Opel and the Austrian-Canadian auto-parts supplier Magna International. 'The GAZ group is hoping for further cooperation with Opel and Magna in the building of a competitive passenger car for Russia and other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS),' said Yelena Matveyeva, deputy chairwoman of GAZ's board of directors.

May 9th, 2009 MAINZ - Italian carmaker Fiat appeared to raise fresh doubts Friday about its plans for parts of the German operations of crisis-hit US carmaker General Motors if the group's bid to buy GM's European auto offshoots succeeds. Following a meeting between Fiat chief Sergio Marchionne and key German political leaders, the premier of the west German state of Rhineland Platz Kurt Beck said he was 'greatly concerned' about the operations of GM's German subsidiary, Opel.

May 8th, 2009 German state governor meets Fiat over Opel bidFRANKFURT — Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne is meeting with the governors of two key German states as part of his bid to take over General Motors' Opel subsidiary. Marchionne met Friday with Roland Koch, government of the German state of Hesse, where Opel is based.

May 4th, 2009 Minister: Fiat bid would keep 3 German Opel plantsBERLIN — Germany's economy minister says Fiat Group SpA wants to take over General Motors Corp's Opel unit without running up debt and would preserve the three main German assembly plants if successful. Economy Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg says after meeting Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne that the deal would require short-term financing estimated by Fiat at some €5-7 billion ($6.6-9.3 billion) Europe-wide.

May 3rd, 2009 Fiat chairman: GM's Opel an "ideal" partnerROME — The chairman of Fiat SpA, which is in the process of acquiring U.S. automaker Chrysler, confirmed the Italian automaker's interest in General Motors' German unit Opel, calling it an "ideal partner" and a possible takeover by Fiat an "extraordinary opportunity." It was the first confirmation from Fiat of its interest in Opel.

May 2nd, 2009 Reports: Fiat head to discuss Opel takeoverBERLIN — The head of Italian carmaker Fiat SpA, which is in the process of acquiring U.S. automaker Chrysler, is continuing talks with German officials about a possible takeover of General Motor's Opel unit, according to media reports Saturday.

April 24th, 2009 German governor confirms Fiat interest in OpelFRANKFURT — Italian car company Fiat SpA and Canadian car parts maker Magna International Inc. are both interested in a stake of German carmaker Opel, a unit of General Motors Corp., a German official said Thursday.