Berlin Accused of Sabotaging Opel's Revival

General Motors and all those involved in the Opel saga worked hard to set up a plan that would bring the German carmaker back to life but up until now, officials in Opel's natal country are yet to provide the needed financing. The reason is still unknown but voices close to the matter are suggesting that Berlin might attempt to sabotage the plan.

Why would they do that? Nobody knows for sure but it appears that Germany is yet to get over GM's change of plans when it canceled the Opel sale to Magna and decided to keep the brand.

The first to step in front of the media and accuse the government of bad intentions is Matthias Machnig, the economy minister of the east German state of Thuringia, who told the Focus magazine that the government might attempt to delay granting financing by demanding General Motors new and impossible to reach measures. Several German officials have already stated that GM must increase its compensation in the Opel live-saving plan.

"Time is running out. GM has shown that it wants to give Opel a long-term future. The constant discussion about Opel's future is damaging the brand and weakening trust," said Machnig. Thuringia is currently hosting the Eisenach factory where Opel is manufacturing the Corsa.

Curiously, Berlin hasn't replied to the accusations but it seems that states holding Opel factories are losing patience. Several state officials, including Thuringia, sent a letter to German Chancellor Angela Merkel to demand her to accelerate discussions on Opel state aid.