At a glance: Opel suitors

The bulk of Opel job losses will be outside of Germany

General Motors (GM) could announce the successful bidder for its European subsidiary Opel as early as Friday.

Two companies are still in the race to buy Opel, and its UK brand Vauxhall - Austrian-Canadian car parts maker Magna, and Belgian-based investment firm RHJ International.

Each has presented its official proposal to GM, and is now awaiting the US firm's decision.

While GM has the final say, the decision of the German government is key.

This is because Germany has already given Opel 1.5bn euros ($2.1bn; £1.3bn) of short-term loans to help maintain its finances until the sale to either Magna or RHJ is concluded.

German also has a stake in the trustee scheme set up to temporarily own Opel until the sale goes through, and Berlin has very publicly supported the Magna offer.

MAGNA INTERNATIONAL

Who: Austrian-Canadian car parts maker, in a consortium with Russia's Sberbank and Oleg Deripaska's truck firm Gaz.

Financial details: Has so far publicly offered 750m euros for 55% of GM Europe, and already handed over 300m euros of emergency funding.

Proposes that 10% of the carmaker would be owned by Opel employees; while GM would keep a 35% stake.

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Plan for Opel in mainland Europe: German officials said in May that Magna's plan envisaged some 2,600 job cuts in Germany, with between 7,500 and 8,500 going elsewhere in Europe.

Plan for Vauxhall: Has reportedly promised to keep open both UK plants - at Luton and Ellesmere Port - until 2013, but with no guarantees beyond that.

Strategy overview: Wants to use Opel to make an aggressive push into the Russian market.

What it might do: According to a Russian newspaper report, Magna would want to sell Opel cars under its own brand and make any changes it wished to Opel designs, as well as use Opel technology for new models. Reportedly it would use access to new technology to help Russia revive its domestic automakers, and may demand rights to Opel's intellectual property.

RHJ INTERNATIONAL

Who: Belgium-based financial investor, backed by American private equity firm Ripplewood.

Financial details: Will pay 275m euros for a 50.1% stake in Opel, according to a document seen by Reuters. The RHJ plan requires 3.8bn euros in government guarantees.

Plan for Opel in mainland Europe: Just under 10,000 jobs to go. Will keep German factories open, though believed to be planning to ask workers to take a pay cut in return for shares in the group.

Plan for Vauxhall: Few details, though is understood to have pledged to retain Vauxhall's two sites.

Strategy overview: Production cutbacks, pay cuts for staff as well as the job losses.

What it might do: Says it wants to build up an independent European brand with Opel. Employee representatives have voiced worries that RHJ's aim may be simply to sell Opel back to parent GM.