King willing to join Opel board if asked

United Auto Workers president Bob King said he would join the board of General Motors Co's money-losing Opel unit if asked by its German union. Sources previously told Reuters that German union IG Metall will name King to the Opel board next month. The US union chief met with his Opel counterpart, Wolfgang Schaefer-Klug, in Detroit last week. "I have not been appointed to the board yet," King later told reporters. GM declined to comment on the prospect of King joining the Opel board. GM and IG Metall in previous statements have said they are working together to return Opel to profitability. IG Metall has not yet decided whom it will name to Opel's board, added King, speaking on the sidelines of an event in Flint, Michigan, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of a sit-down strike that led to recognition of the union by GM. Article continues below King later said: "I will do what IG Metall wants. They are a great union and we want to continue to work closely with them." Opel has struggled to return to profitability, and sources previously said GM Europe will lose between $292 million (Dh1.07 billion) and $568 million when the US automaker reports fourth-quarter results on Thursday. GM is working with Opel union leaders to cut costs there.