Magna International Inc. (MGA) founder and Chairman Frank Stronach said Wednesday that General Motors Corp.'s (GM) German Opel unit could prosper significantly through a deal with the Austro-Canadian auto supplier.

"We can contribute a lot [to this alliance]," Stronach told reporters in Berlin ahead of a meeting with the German government, referring to Magna's technological expertise.

He added that "the workers are most important" for a deal.

Stronach said that Opel could have "a great future".

Opel "has always been somewhat restricted, because they weren't free," he said, referring to Opel's parent company GM.

Magna is understood to be to the frontrunner in a possible Opel deal. Other suitors include Italian automaker Fiat SpA (F.MI), financial investor RHJ International SA (RHJI.BT) and Chinese automaker Beijing Automotive Industry Corp. (BAIC) which emerged as a possible fourth bidder.

Company Web site: www.opel.com

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