GENERAL MOTORS

A senior member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) broke ranks with the government over the future of Opel on Thursday, saying Canadian automotive firm Magna is not necessarily the best bidder for the carmaker.

WASHINGTON - Japanese and South Korean automakers registered the biggest market share gains in the U.S. government's cash for clunkers program that ended this week with bankruptcy related inventory shortages hurting General Motors Co [GM.UL] and Chrysler.

The German government signaled on Wednesday talks between Berlin and General Motors over the fate of its European unit Opel are threatening to drag on, raising the prospect of weeks more of negotiation.

The German government signaled on Wednesday that talks between Berlin and General Motors over the fate of its European unit Opel are threatening to drag on, raising the specter of insolvency again.

Last November, General Motors was burning cash on a fast-track to failure and desperate to cut any deal to save itself and its German unit Opel.

SAIC Motor Corp, China's biggest automaker, posted a 26.4 percent fall in first half earnings on provisions for its loss-making South Korean unit but was cautiously optimistic for the rest of the year as government policy initiatives bolstered automobile demand.

Germany believes the management of General Motors Co is still committed to finding a buyer for its European unit Opel, government officials said on Tuesday after talks with the U.S. automaker in Berlin.

Autodealer Cliff Johnson sold 70 vehicles under the government's cash-for-clunkers program, which offered rebates of up to $4,500 to trade in older gas guzzlers.

The new board of General Motors Co [GM.UL] has emerged as a key player in the outcome of the automaker's long-running talks to sell off its Opel unit.

The new board of General Motors Co has emerged as a key player in the outcome of the automaker's long-running talks to sell off its Opel unit.

For a few frenzied weeks this summer, the U.S. auto industry has been partying like the good old days of 2007 -- before demand dropped off a cliff.

German government officials met with General Motors' top negotiator on Tuesday, hoping to get answers on why the U.S. carmaker has so far failed to choose a buyer for its European unit, Opel.

General Motors' chief negotiator in the sale of Opel will on Tuesday meet a task force created by the German government to discuss the U.S. carmaker's plans for the European unit, a German politician said.

General Motors Co is considering a plan to raise funding to keep Opel as an alternative to selling the unit to Magna International , sources with knowledge of the deliberations said on Monday.

The Obama administration pledged on Monday to stay out of General Motors' choice of a buyer for its European Opel unit, while union leaders in Germany put more pressure on the U.S. automaker to make a decision.

General Motors Co is considering a plan to raise funding to keep Opel as an alternative to selling the unit to Magna International with financing from the German government, sources with knowledge of the deliberations said on Monday.

General Motors Co is considering keeping its Opel business in Europe instead of selling it by winning billions of dollars in aid from the U.S. and European governments, the Financial Times reported on Monday.

The Obama administration pledged on Monday to stay out of General Motors Co's choice of a buyer for its Opel unit in Europe as German union leaders put more pressure on the U.S. automaker to make a decision.

The Obama administration will not get involved in General Motors Corp.'s choice of a buyer for its Opel operations in Europe, an administration official said on Monday.

The German government sought to calm a growing transatlantic row over the fate of carmaker Opel on Monday as unions threatened

The Obama administration will not get involved in General Motors Corp.'s choice of a buyer for its Opel operations in Europe, an administration official said on Monday.