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The head of General Motors Corp.'s (GMGMQ) German unit Adam Opel GmbH said the interest of several potential investors is generally positive as it strengthens the automaker's negotiating position, but it must not delay the sales process.

"We need a deal fast," Hans Demant said in an internal letter to staff seen by Dow Jones Newswires Wednesday.

Demant said that takeover talks are being held with Magna International Inc. (MGA), Ripplewood Holdings, Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. Ltd. and Fiat SpA (F.MI).

Each investor has its own strategic approach, Demant said. Fiat was focused on future technologies, BAIC wants to grow in the Chinese market and Magna plans to expand its own product portfolio significantly in order to create growth in markets such as Russia.

Financial investor Ripplewood wanted to "help us as (an) investor through the difficult time," Demant said.

Magna is the front runner to clinch a deal with GM after it signed in May a non-exclusive memorandum of understanding to acquire a majority stake in Opel and British brand Vauxhall as part of a bid backed by Russia's Sberbank Rossia (SBER.RS) and automaker OAO GAZ Group (GAZA.RS). Magna's supervisory board plans to discuss the bid at a meeting scheduled for July 14.

However, BAIC has been pushing hard in recent weeks to catch up with Magna in the race for Opel and launched a bid worth EUR660 million for a 51% stake in the German automaker, according to a takeover document reviewed by Dow Jones Newswires.

Fiat has reiterated its interest in Opel, but refused so far to improve its bid. The prospects of Ripplewood's offer remain unclear.

Company Web site: www.opel.de

-By Nico Schmidt, Dow Jones Newswires; +49 69 29 725 114; nico.schmidt@dowjones.com

(Christoph Rauwald contributed to this report.)