BERLIN, Dec 13 (Reuters) - General Motors should sell its Swedish brand Saab, said Klaus Franz, head of the works council at GM's German unit Opel, according to German weekly auto motor und sport.
'I am glad that the Swedish government has granted support for Volvo and Saab,' Franz said in an interview to be published on Thursday. 'On that basis, Ford and GM could find new investors for their Swedish brands.
Sweden's government on Thursday said it would provide up to 25 billion crowns ($3.12 billion) in credit guarantees and emergency loans to its ailing auto industry, but it had no plans to buy stakes in Ford's Volvo or Saab.
'I do not see any perspective for Saab under GM. Investments in at least three products would be needed for the brand to survive,' Franz told auto motor und sport.
Opel has also sought funding guarantees from the German government to help weather the devastating downturn in auto markets. The German government has said any funding for Opel was conditional on none of it finding its way back to GM.
In the United States, the White House weighed emergency funding to avert collapse of the U.S. auto industry on Friday.
Roland Koch, the influential conservative premier of the western German state of Hesse, told Reuters Televsion he hoped the United States could reach an auto sector aid package as that would make the situation at Opel easier.
'But, by way of the intensive talks concerning a guarantee, we are also in a position to help Opel here in Germany, if need be, if there is not a solution in America, which we are hoping for,' Koch added.
(Reporting by Maria Sheahan and Reuters Television) ($1=8.023 Swedish Crown) Keywords: GM OPEL/SAAB (maria.sheahan@thomsonreuters.com; +49 69 7565 1286; Reuters Messaging: maria.sheahan.thomsonreuters.com@thomsonreuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
'I am glad that the Swedish government has granted support for Volvo and Saab,' Franz said in an interview to be published on Thursday. 'On that basis, Ford and GM could find new investors for their Swedish brands.
Sweden's government on Thursday said it would provide up to 25 billion crowns ($3.12 billion) in credit guarantees and emergency loans to its ailing auto industry, but it had no plans to buy stakes in Ford's Volvo or Saab.
'I do not see any perspective for Saab under GM. Investments in at least three products would be needed for the brand to survive,' Franz told auto motor und sport.
Opel has also sought funding guarantees from the German government to help weather the devastating downturn in auto markets. The German government has said any funding for Opel was conditional on none of it finding its way back to GM.
In the United States, the White House weighed emergency funding to avert collapse of the U.S. auto industry on Friday.
Roland Koch, the influential conservative premier of the western German state of Hesse, told Reuters Televsion he hoped the United States could reach an auto sector aid package as that would make the situation at Opel easier.
'But, by way of the intensive talks concerning a guarantee, we are also in a position to help Opel here in Germany, if need be, if there is not a solution in America, which we are hoping for,' Koch added.
(Reporting by Maria Sheahan and Reuters Television) ($1=8.023 Swedish Crown) Keywords: GM OPEL/SAAB (maria.sheahan@thomsonreuters.com; +49 69 7565 1286; Reuters Messaging: maria.sheahan.thomsonreuters.com@thomsonreuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.