Opel decision could come from GM board meeting; Germany eager to know outcome

September 12th, 2009 EU warns against protectionism in GM sale of OpelBRUSSELS — The European Union's competition commissioner has warned she will take action if there is any protectionism in the sale of General Motors Co.'s European unit Opel. The Belgian government says it wants the EU Commission to investigate the Opel deal amid concern that Germany allegedly sought to protect its own plants at the cost of others.

September 11th, 2009 Belgium wants EU to probe Opel-GM decisonsBRUSSELS — Belgium wants the European Union to investigate the sale of General Motors Co.'s European unit Opel amid misgivings Germany allegedly sought to protect its own plants at the cost of others. "I think the German government sought its own advantage," said Belgian vice premier Joelle Milquet after it became clear that the plant in Antwerp would be wound down but none would be closed in Germany.

September 10th, 2009 BERLIN - Giant US carmaker General Motors Co. (GM) plans to sell off a majority stake in its European offshoot Opel to a consortium lead by the Canadian-Austrian auto parts group Magna International, German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced Thursday.

September 10th, 2009 Opel works council chief expects GM decision todayFRANKFURT — The head of automaker Opel's works council in Germany says General Motors Co. is likely to announce its plans for the company's future Thursday afternoon.

September 10th, 2009 Opel works council chief expecting GM decisionFRANKFURT — The head of Opel's workers council said Thursday he expects a decision to be announced by General Motors Co. on the future of Opel later in the day, but he did not know what the U.S.

September 10th, 2009 GM decision on Opel looms; reports say no saleFRANKFURT — Opel's workers council said Thursday that General Motors Co. would announce its decision later in the day on the future of the unit.

September 8th, 2009 Labor impatient for Opel decisionFRANKFURT — General Motors Co.'s board begins a two-day meeting in Detroit on Tuesday with European labor organizations pressing for a decision on the fate of its European unit Opel, where thousands of German jobs are on the line. A person familiar with the meeting said GM's board won't make any decision about the automaker, whose brands also include Britain's Vauxhall, until Wednesday.

September 8th, 2009 Opel decision may come from GM board meetingFRANKFURT — General Motors Co.'s board begins a two-day meeting in Detroit Tuesday that could see it decide the fate of its European unit Opel, an outcome German business leaders and politicians hope preserves thousands of jobs. Opel spokesman Frank Klaas said Opel did not have any comment on the meeting, while GM Europe officials in Zurich, Switzerland, where the company is based, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

September 8th, 2009 GM board begins two-day meeting, Opel on agendaFRANKFURT — General Motors Co.'s board begins a two-day meeting in Detroit on Tuesday with labor organizations pressing for a decision on the fate of its European unit Opel, where thousands of German jobs are on the line. A person familiar with the meeting said GM's board won't make any decision about the automaker, whose brands also include Britain's Vauxhall, until Wednesday.

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 German official: GM still wants to sell OpelBERLIN — A German government official says General Motors Co.'s negotiator has made clear during a meeting with federal and state officials that the automaker is still interested in selling its European Opel unit. The government official says that new management at GM has been requiring more information on the pair of offers, therefore delaying a decision.

August 23rd, 2009 Germany's Merkel hopes for Opel decision soonBERLIN — German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sunday that General Motors Corp. needs to make a decision soon on the future of its Opel unit, and that she hoped for progress in the coming week.

August 22nd, 2009 WASHINGTON/BERLIN - General Motors' newly-appointed board has failed to support a plan backed by its executives that would sell the US auto giant's European subsidiary, Opel, to Canadian auto supplier Magna International Inc, according to reports Friday. The meeting had adjourned with no decision, according to a GM statement.

August 4th, 2009 GM, Germany, bidders hold new Opel talksBERLIN — Talks between General Motors Co., the German government and two bidders seeking to buy GM's European Opel unit ended Tuesday with progress reported and GM saying it hopes to make a recommendation shortly on a buyer. "Progress was made clarifying issues from the best and final offers received two weeks ago," GM said in a statement, without saying exactly when it would make a recommendation to the Adam Opel GmbH Trust board.

August 4th, 2009 GM: No decision yet on OpelBERLIN — General Motors Co. said Tuesday that its board of directors has been given an update on efforts to sell the European Opel unit but the company has not yet picked a buyer.