Mandelson in Vauxhall rescue talks

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

According to the Financial Times, he held "substantial telephone conversations" on Tuesday with the bosses of Vauxhall's parent companies.

His reported intervention comes ahead of an imminent decision by the German government to name a preferred bidder for General Motors' European arm Opel and Vauxhall.

Lord Mandelson spoke to Fritz Henderson, GM's chief executive, and Carl Peter Forster, chief executive of GM Europe, to make clear the "UK's commitment to all of Vauxhall's plants", the paper said.

The move will impact on staff at Vauxhall's UK factories in Luton, Bedfordshire, and Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, which employ a combined total of around 5,000 people.

There are fears the German government could give in to election-year pressure with a pledge to protect domestic jobs at the expense of those in the UK.

Berlin's opinion is important as it is being asked to make billions of euros worth of loan guarantees as part of any deal. Opel also has its headquarters in Germany, where half of the firm's 25,000 workers are based.

Four entities are bidding to buy Opel and Vauxhall - Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation (BAIC), Italian car maker Fiat, Canadian car parts maker Magna and Brussels-based investor RHJ.

Fiat wants to create one of the world's biggest motor manufacturers by combining its operation with Chrysler in the United States and General Motors' European offshoot.

The sale of GM's European arm is part of the reorganisation of the US carmaker, which is battling to avoid bankruptcy.