TIMELINE - 11th-hour deal saves Opel

Reuters - A German government-orchestrated rescue of struggling carmaker Opel has opened divisions in Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative alliance only four months before the country's federal election.

Here is a summary of recent events at Opel, founded in 1863 and bought by GM in 1929:

Nov. 2008 - Opel asks Germany for state loan guarantees.

Feb. 2009 - GM presents restructuring plan to the U.S. government, puts its Swedish unit Saab up for sale and says it will need to cut $1.2 billion of costs in Europe.

March 4 - GM Europe head Carl-Peter Forster says Opel could slash 3,500 jobs and relaunch as an independent company, including UK-based Vauxhall.

March 16 - Opel's hopes of getting state aid dealt a blow when a government enquiry finds it is not possible to completely separate it from its U.S. parent.

April 23 - An Opel supervisory board member says GM is moving nearer to a deal to offload Opel, having found a prospective buyer in Fiat.

April 28 - Canadian-Austrian auto parts maker Magna presents outlines of an offer for Opel.

May 12 - Russian carmaker GAZ confirms its interest in a joint venture with Opel and Magna.