German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who favours the winning bid, reportedly said on German television Sunday night that she was frustrated with the slow pace of the Opel deal.

'Every day counts, for the workers, as well as for the business situation,'' she has been quoted as saying.

Under the deal, Magna and Sberbank will equally share a 55 percent stake in Opel and its UK unit Vauxhall. GM will retain 35 percent, and Opel employees acquire 10 percent.

But upset with GM's dilly-dallying over clinching the deal, leaders of Opel's 25,000 workers have reportedly gone back back an agreement to forego their vacation pay. Reports here say they are now seeking $108.1 million.

Being the majority stake holders in GM, the US government can have a decisive say in the bidding process. But White House deputy press secretary Bill Burton said Monday that President Barack Obama will not get in it.

'The president's view is that decisions made on the day-to-day operations of General Motors should be made by the folks at General Motors. He never wanted to get into the auto business and he's happy for them to make their decisions and get back on their feet,'' said Burton said.