Rants and Raves

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General Motors Co. will contribute 1.9 billion euros, or $2.7 billion, in financing for its struggling German carmaker Adam Opel GmbH -- more than three times its previous investment pledge, Opel said today.

With this contribution, GM will provide just more than half of the funding of Opel's estimated requirements of $5.2 billion. Nick Reilly, CEO of Opel and its British operations, Vauxhall, said GM's contribution would be in the form of equity and loans.

Opel/Vauxhall had estimated its funding requirements at 3.3 billion euros, or $4.6 billion. However, governments had estimated it would need around $600 million more to offset deteriorating market conditions.