Berlin - Automobile manufacturer Opel said Friday it was seeking credit guarantees from the German government, following a sharp downturn in orders.

Sources told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa the company was looking for some 200 million euros (252 million dollars) in support from Berlin and the four German states where it has factories.

An Opel spokesman said the company would only make use of the guarantees if the situation of its parent General Motors (GM) deteriorated to the effect that production and project development at the German subsidiary was affected.

GM, the world's biggest carmaker, is struggling to stay afloat because of a massive slump in sales triggered by the ongoing financial crisis.

Opel had earlier written to Chancellor Angela Merkel requesting she push harder for a 40-billion-euro loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to carmakers.

Opel also requested soft loans to German buyers of new cars and a government buy-in of elderly cars to stimulate the flagging German car market.

Germany's parliament agreed this week on an economic stimulus package that includes a six-month suspension of vehicle tax on new cars bought in Germany.

Opel and other German carmakers such as Daimler and BMW have announced temporary closures of factories to save costs following a huge drop in orders. (dpa)