It had been expected that a preferred bidder would be chosen from Fiat, Magna International or the outsider, RHJ International, at a meeting of the German government this evening chaired by Chancellor Angela Merkel, seen above previously visiting an Opel factory.

With Opel formally completing its legal separation from GM today it is now being reported that a decision on a successful bidder won't be made at this evening's crunch meeting in Berlin as the German government is still unhappy with the offers submitted by Fiat and Magna.

It had been widely expected that a preferred bidder would be chosen from Fiat, Magna International or the outsider, RHJ International, during a special meeting of German government officials this evening chaired by Chancellor Angela Merkel after a final round of intense negotiations. However with the overall picture changing by the hour an imminent decision is very likely to recede.

Both Fiat and Magna "must substantially improve" their offers for Opel, commented the German Economy Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg this afternoon. The minister doesn't expect ''an agreement'' to emerge from today's meeting ''on a preferred candidate'' for the takeover of Opel. Guttenberg pointed out that the government is waiting for further details from the Chinese carmaker BAIC on its bid as so far they have only sent two pages.

A spokesperson for the government also predicted earlier on that the summit today will not choose one of the three offers presented to buy Opel. The spokesperson hoped that an agreement can also be found regarding a trustee. Berlin now seems oriented towards taking its time, while awaiting an agreement with the U.S. Treasury Department which is nearing a decision on the future of Opel's parent company GM. The American carmaker now appears to be headed towards a bankruptcy procedure. In the meanwhile, as has been announced by Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck, a bridging loan of 1.5 billion euros could be approved for Opel. The government will take forward the negotiations for the sale of Opel with at least two of the potential purchasers, the spokesman added, and it is not too late for a Chinese offer to be taken into consideration even if the BAIC representatives were not present today at a meeting. "It is more than probable that the negotiations will continue with at least two investors after the meeting today," said the spokesman, Thomas Steg.

Another major hurdle to the sale was completed today after the Opel supervision council approved the legal separation of Opel from GM, from which the German automaker is already financially autonomous. The news was announced by the president of the Opel factory council, Klaus Franz. All of the company's factories, commercial organisation, and some of GM's assets now belong to Opel. Franz also explained that Opel will be free of debt once it is integrated with a future partner.

"Marchionne did everything he was supposed to and could do" and "now a series of decisions will be made," commented Fiat Group Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, meeting with journalists for the 13th edition of the I giovani e il lavoro event. Although reluctant to comment on the development of the position of the Fiat-Opel negotiations he confirmed that Marchionne had done everything he could possibly do to acquire Opel. "When you play the lottery," said the Fiat Chairman, "it's better to wait for the result: let's take a day off," he said to journalists, "there is nothing to say that has not already been said. There is nothing new to report. I am very happy with the Chrysler deal, it was a great, great deal. This deal with Opel is an extraordinary chance because currently entrepreneurs are looking for opportunities and therefore I hope it is possible to do so. Marchionne did everything he was supposed to and could do, now we have done what we were supposed to do and we are aware that we did what we could do. Now there will be a series of decision to be made," added Montezemolo.