CHRYSLER

Despite major social problems, now is the moment to create a big European car maker by combining Italy's Fiat SpA with the European operations of General Motors, including its German brand Opel, Fiat's Chief Executive said on Saturday.

A group of Chrysler LLC's dissident lenders disbanded, representatives said on Friday, removing the last legal hurdle to the automaker's quest to complete a merger with Italy's Fiat SpA with U.S. government backing.

A group of Chrysler LLC's dissident lenders disbanded, representatives said on Friday, removing the last legal hurdle to the embattled automaker's quest to complete a merger with Italy's Fiat SpA with U.S. government backing.

OppenheimerFunds, one of Chrysler LLC's dissident secured lenders, said on Friday it has decided to withdraw its opposition to the automaker's proposed debt restructuring plan as it no longer expects to increase its recovery rate.

Chrysler chief executive Bob Nardelli praised a court decision that opens up the way for the bankrupt firm to sell its assets, creating an alliance with Fiat SpA.

U.S. car maker General Motors Corp is eyeing a stake in Fiat SpA's car business in exchange for its European and Latin American operations, the New York Times reported on its website.

U.S. carmaker General Motors Corp is eyeing a stake in Italian peer Fiat SpA in exchange for the American automaker's European and Latin American operations, the New York Times reported on its website.

Chrysler chief executive Bob Nardelli praised a court decision that opens up the way for the bankrupt firm to sell its assets, creating an alliance with Fiat SpA.

Bankrupt Chrysler has a clear path to an alliance with Italy's Fiat SpA, the U.S. company's chief executive said while rival Ford Motor Co reported on Wednesday it has sufficient liquidity and its restructuring remains on track, boosting its shares.

Dissident Chrysler lenders were identified on Wednesday in bankruptcy court, while Ford Motor Co said its restructuring remained on track and announced plans to convert an SUV plant to small-car production, pushing its shares higher.

Ford Motor Co's restructuring is on track and the automaker has sufficient liquidity to fund the plan, which includes converting plants and investing in future products, company executives said on Wednesday.

A U.S. bankruptcy judge approved bidding procedures for the rapid sale of most of Chrysler's assets, over objections from a group of lenders who called the accelerated timetable an absurdity.

General Motors is set to resume negotiations with the United Auto Workers union this week and believes everything should be open for discussion, the company's chief executive said on Tuesday.

Ford Motor Co on Wednesday unveiled a $550 million investment to convert an SUV plant near Detroit to build a new generation of Focus small cars next year and a battery-electric Focus in 2011.

A U.S. bankruptcy judge has approved bidding procedures for the rapid sale of most of bankrupt vehicle maker Chrysler's assets.

A U.S. bankruptcy judge on Tuesday considered whether Chrysler LLC could move forward with its plans for a quick sale of most of its assets while rival General Motors Corp prepared to resume talks with its union and detailed a plan that could shift majority ownership control to the U.S. government.

A U.S. bankruptcy judge on Tuesday considered whether Chrysler LLC could move forward with its plans for a quick sale of most of its assets while rival General Motors Corp prepared to resume talks with its union and detailed a plan that could shift majority ownership control to the U.S. government.

A small group of Chrysler's lenders who have objected to the Obama administration's plan for a quick dash through bankruptcy must identify themselves, in spite of death threats, a U.S. judge ruled on Tuesday.

FRANKFURT - The senior labor leader of German carmaker Opel (GM.N) warned that Fiat's (FIA.MI) ambitious growth strategy was an all-or-nothing bet, rejecting the Italian rival's takeover concept for the GM Europe brand.

A small group of Chrysler's lenders on Tuesday raised further objections to the Obama administration's plan for a quick dash through bankruptcy and called on the judge overseeing the case to block the effort.

This week, the Obama Administration failed to push through a reorganization plan for Chrysler that would have, among other things, used government bailout money to give the United Auto Workers a majority stake in the company.