May 26 (Bloomberg) -- General Motors Corp.’s Opel unit has attracted “signaled interest” out of China, German Economy Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said.

Guttenberg wouldn’t identify the suitor. Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. submitted an expression of interest May 21, a person familiar with the matter has told Bloomberg. The Financial Times Deutschland also reported the Chinese carmaker’s interest. Guttenberg said today that what the newspaper reported “wasn’t all that wrong.”

Whether the Chinese party has a chance to enter the race as a fourth bidder “depends on how quickly and profoundly we can get to work,” Guttenberg told reporters in Berlin.

GM has said that Opel needs 3.3 billion euros ($4.6 billion) in government aid to survive. The Detroit-based carmaker is selling a majority stake in its European operations while preparing for a probable June 1 bankruptcy. The unit attracted bids from Italian carmaker Fiat SpA, Canadian auto supplier Magna International Inc. and buyout firm RHJ International SA.

To contact the reporter on this story: Rainer Buergin in Berlin at rbuergin1@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: May 26, 2009 15:18 EDT