May 29 (Bloomberg) -- Fiat SpA, Italy’s biggest carmaker, will focus on completing the purchase of a stake in Chrysler LLC by June 1 as the U.S. manufacturer prepares to leave protection from creditors, Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne said.

The Italian carmaker still wants to buy General Motors Corp.’s Opel division in Europe and is “very much interested” in its Latin American operations, Marchionne told reporters in Montreal. A purchase of the U.S. company’s Saab Automobile unit in Sweden, while possible, is less likely if Fiat can’t buy Opel because the two GM brands share so many parts, the CEO said.

Fiat and Aurora, Ontario-based Magna International Inc. are competing for a stake in Opel, which GM is selling while preparing for a bankruptcy filing. Marchionne skipped a meeting with government leaders in Berlin today after talks stalled yesterday over financial backing that GM was seeking for Opel. Magna submitted “new proposals” to help rescue the unit, Economy Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said today.

“If the Opel transaction is not available to Fiat, life will move on,” Marchionne said. “We’ll just be focusing on what we have.”

Chrysler is in bankruptcy court seeking approval of a $2 billion takeover offer from Fiat and U.S. partners. Scott E. Ratner, a lawyer for the Auburn Hills, Michigan-based carmaker, told U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Arthur Gonzalez in Manhattan today that the company had resolved all suppliers’ objections to the sale. CEO Robert Nardelli testified yesterday that the purchase could be completed by today if Gonzalez approves.

‘Kick-Started’ Renewal

“We’ll be spending the next few days with the leadership” at Chrysler, Marchionne said. “We need to get the organization kick-started for when it comes out of Chapter 11. That remains the primary objective.”

Marchionne wants Fiat to become a global carmaker by cooperating with Opel and Chrysler. He reiterated in a speech to finance executives in Montreal today that he foresees only six companies with a worldwide car-industry presence, meaning annual production of more than 6 million vehicles, in two years.

Fiat isn’t interested in becoming a partner with Magna in buying Opel, Marchionne told reporters. At the same time, Chrysler would probably continue buying supplies from the Canadian company, North America’s second-biggest car-parts maker, he said.

Opel, Chrysler Strategy

The Italian company’s plans for Ruesselsheim, Germany-based Opel would be to set up three “totally common” model platforms for European brands. The Chrysler purchase would allow Fiat to “fill out the product range” for North America, he said.

German officials have held talks in the past week with GM and bidders for Opel because of the Detroit-based company’s request for government loan guarantees. State leaders and labor representatives have said repeatedly since bids were submitted on May 20 that they favor Magna’s offer, which includes 700 million euros ($989 million) in investments in partnership with OAO Sberbank, Russia’s biggest lender.

“The German government is trying to deal with a very difficult situation,” Marchionne said today. “It’s trying to determine the proper way to support Opel without endangering the basic principles which have governed German government finance for a long period.”

Turin-based Fiat made a non-cash bid that would contribute factories and other assets from its own carmaking operations and would also include taking over GM’s Latin American businesses.

Industry’s ‘Dire Need’

“I have faith in the fact that ultimately the right answer will be made,” Marchionne said. “This industry is in dire need of consolidation. Whether we are the agents or somebody else is, the process is fundamentally inescapable.”

GM is cutting ties with Saab, and the unprofitable Trollhaettan-based unit is looking for its own buyer. Saab won a deadline extension from a Swedish bankruptcy court today to reorganize. The carmaker now has until Aug. 20 to reach agreements with a buyer and settle debt reduction with creditors. Fiat is one of three suitors for the division.

“We will continue to look at Saab as a potential target,” Marchionne said. Fiat, which aims to introduce its 500-model small car in North America by early 2011, wouldn’t be interested in buying GM’s Saturn division there, he added.

To contact the reporter on this story: Frederic Tomesco in Montreal at tomesco@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: May 29, 2009 12:40 EDT