The chief executive of Italian carmaker Fiat has confirmed his company's interest in an alliance with Opel, the German-based subsidiary of struggling US car giant General Motors.
"Now we have to concentrate on Opel. They are our perfect partner,'' Sergio Marchionne told the Turin-based Fiat-owned newspaper, La Stampa.
Mr Marchionne's remarks came a day after Fiat clinched an alliance with US carmaker Chrysler.
On Thursday, Fiat closed a deal with Chrysler giving it an initial 20% stake in the Detroit-based carmaker, which filed for bankruptcy protection in the US.
According to the publication Automotive News Europe a partnership of Fiat, Chrysler and parts of General Motors would create the world's second-largest vehicle group after Toyota.
To date, labour unions representing Opel employees and some German politicians have spoken out against Fiat merging with Opel, citing possible job cuts and plant closures.
On Tuesday Canadian-Austrian car parts supplier Magna presented the German government with an outline for an Opel bailout proposal.
German economics minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said Magna had laid out an "initial interesting rough concept''.
DPA
