FRANKFURT -- General Motors expects at least three bids for its European business by the close of business Wednesday, a spokesman for G.M. Europe said, according to The New York Times.

G.M. anticipates that the bids for Opel and Vauxhall will be reviewed simultaneously by the German government, which will play a large role because it holds the key to financing any deal. "Then they will be examined by experts at the economics ministry as well," the spokesman, Frank Klaas, said.

The bids, which may include a submission from a fourth party that emerged in the last day, will kick off what could be a months-long process to chose which company gets control of -- or a major stake in -- the prime European property that G.M. will disgorge as a result of its financial difficulties.

The three likely bidders are Fiat, the Italian auto company; Magna International, a Canadian company that has backing from a Russian carmaker and bank; and a private equity investor, Ripplewood Holdings.