Fiat Group and GM executives are to meet this week to discuss further cooperation to bolster the failing Fiat Auto business. According to Friday's Wall Street Journal, Fiat chiefs are likely to ask GM to flesh out chief exec Rick Wagoner's recent statement that the US giant carmaker would help “in any way it can”.

Italian entrepreneur Robert Colaninno submitted his restructuring plan to Fiat managers last Friday. The plan comprises the raising of around 10bn euros for restructuring – half derived from asset sales and half from Colaninno himself and other investors.