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Speculation mounted in Germany that Fiat could be on the verge of making a bid for Opel, the European division of General Motors. And in a dramatic move it is believed that a top German government official left for talks with the head of Fiat on a trip to the US. But the Italian company, which is in the final days of partnership talks with Chrysler, attempted to play down an interest in buying Opel or part of it. German authorities and a supervisory board member, however, insisted that the Italian group had made contact. Fiat is continuing joint venture talks with Chrysler for a deal which could rescue the US carmaker from going into administration. A spokesman said Fiat remained focused on the Chrysler talks which must reach a conclusion next Thursday - Chrysler’s deadline for restructuring or being forced into bankruptcy by the US government. But he refused to comment on disclosures from two local governments and the head of Opel’s works council that Fiat wanted to buy part of the German group. Hendirk Hering, the economy minister for Rhineland-Palatinate, and the government of Hesse said that Fiat had expressed an interest in Fiat. It is also believed that Joechen Homann, a state secretary who heads a government taskforce on Opel, flew out to meet Sergio Marchionne, Fiat’s chief executive, in Washington. Mr Marchionne left for the US today. Armin Schild, from the union IG Metall who is on the supervisory board of Opel, said that the Italian company was in talks. But IG Metall is opposed to Fiat buying or taking a stake in Opel because it fears Fiat would not seek to boost the German business but rather use it to bolster the Italian operations. Mr Schild said: “Opel cannot survive with two sick parents and a Fiat deal would lead to less autonomy for an Opel Europe rather than more.” GM is retreating from its European operations in an attempt to save its American business. It has asked European governments to pump euros 3.3 billion into GM Europe which includes Opel and Britain’s Vauxhall and wants other investors to join while it retains a stake but possibly only a minority one. Mr Marchionne said after the company’s first quarter results that the company was open to dialogue with a number of carmakers. He said that there was nothing to announce on Opel. But on a deal with Chrysler he said: “Based on what I know today, I see no reason why this should not happen and I can only confirm our unwavering commitment to get this transaction done.” He denied that Fiat could wait to pick up Chrysler assets from bankruptcy. Chrysler, like GM, is surviving temporarily on emergency loans from the US government. But Chrysler has only until next week to draw up a final rescue plan, which needs to involve Fiat, while GM has until June 1st to restructure. Mr Marchionne said: “We continue to make progress in terms of the alliance. We have spent a significant amount of time with people from Chrysler and the US Treasury finalising this transaction.” He said that talks would continue until April 30 - “ the date that has been set by the President of the United States as the drop dead date on this deal.” But he also warned that Fiat would not be a “financial support mechanism” that Chrysler needs to get through its current financial crisis. He said that the Italian group wanted to look at industrial cooperation opportunities with Chrysler that would require investment, especially where they would benefit