D-DAY ON BIDS FOR VAUXHALL.

Byline: NEIL HODGSON

UNION leaders at Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port plant could hold face-to-face talks with bidders for the site and the rest of parent General Motors' European ar m.

Three front runners are expected to submit bids for GM Europe by the end of today's deadline.

They are understood to include Italian car giant Fiat, Canadian components group Magna and Belgian car parts holding company RHJ Inter national.

GM's asking price is thought to be around pounds 570m, and German union leader Klaus Franz is believed to favour RHJ after Fiat indicated its offer is unlikely to involve cash.

Mr Franz, who is based in GM Europe's Opel headquarters in Russelsheim, said: "We are in crisis, but we still have a value. Such remarks are bursting with arrogance and disrespect for the employees at Opel." GM's US parent has said it wants to conclude a deal for its 11 European plants, including two Vauxhall sites in Luton and Ellesmere Port employing 5,000 staff, by the end of May.

The US group itself faces a June 1 deadline to submit a viable restructuring plan before President Barack Obama's government agrees to further financial aid so GM can avoid bankruptcy.

The German government and unions are taking a leading role in negotiations for GM Europe's rescue, but Ellesmere Port union convenor John Fetherstone said he hopes to travel to Russelsheim next week to take part in the process..

He said: "We knew today was the deadline and three bidders were in the frontline.

"We have a meeting lined up, potentially next Tuesday, in Russelsheim with Klaus Franz.

"The union is looking to sit down with potential bidders and listen to what they have to say." However, he said it is too early to say whether a deal to rescue the European business can be achieved before the end of May.

"GM is fairly close to their deadline and have to sort themselves out, so it is difficult to say whether a deal is possible for GM Europe." Although the three front-runners are expected to submit bids today, further bids from another three or four private equity or national car industry players could be lodged..