German Opel talks go into 'overtime'

China Daily | Updated: 2009-05-29 07:50

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (center, back to camera) listens to Economy Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (second left), Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck (right) and other advisors during a meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin yesterday. The fate of German carmaker Opel hung in the balance after marathon talks on shielding it from the looming bankruptcy of its US parent General Motors ended without a deal. Bloomberg News

BERLIN/DETROIT: As the battle for German carmaker Opel narrowed to a two-way race between Fiat and Magna, overnight talks to shield Opel from parent General Motors' looming bankruptcy ended with no deal.