BERLIN (AP) -- The governor of the German state of North-Rhine Westphalia, which has an Opel plant, met over the weekend with the chief of Italy's Fiat SpA., a spokesman said.
Governor Juergen Ruettgers met with Sergio Marchionne in a Cologne hotel for talks on Sunday, the governor's spokesman Hans-Dieter Wichter said. He declined to give any further details.
Germany's Bild daily reported in its Monday edition that Marchionne was seeking the support of Ruettgers -- a leading member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats -- for his plan to make GM Europe, including Opel, part of a global powerhouse also including Chrysler LLC.
Canadian auto parts maker Magna International has said it is in talks about options for Opel that might include taking a minority stake, and the German government has asked both parties to submit details of their concepts for Opel's future by Wednesday.