German Economics Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said Monday after a meeting with Fiat SpA's (F.MI) Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne that the Italian automaker wants to forge a global car alliance and plans to enter this new company free of debt.

Zu Guttenberg told reporters that Marchionne sees the need for consolidation if Fiat was to buy General Motors Corp.'s (GM) German unit Opel, adding that the brand's German assembly plants and German headquarters would be kept.

Zu Guttenberg said according to Fiat's estimates the overall need for bridge-financing for its planned alliance with GM Europe is between EUR5 billion and EUR7 billion.

German labor unions and several politicians oppose a possible Opel takeover by Fiat amid concerns over wide-ranging cutbacks.

Austrian-Canadian auto parts supplier Magna International Inc. (MGA) has also voiced interest in Opel, but the company so far provided little details on any possible investment.

Zu Guttenberg described the meeting with Fiat CEO Marchionne as "interesting" and pledged to examine Fiat's plan closely. He added that Magna's offer will be examined closely as well.

Zu Guttenberg said GM has allowed potential investors to look at information on its European operations. But he noted that in recent weeks GM "hasn't always been the easiest partner to work with" because not all required data has been made available. He stressed that any future deal for Opel also depends on a possible bankruptcy filing of its parent company.

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-By Christoph Rauwald, Dow Jones Newswires; +49 69 29 725 512; christoph.rauwald@dowjones.com