China commerce ministry investigating GM's takeover of Delphi

Shanghai, September 27 (Gasgoo.com) China's commerce ministry has launched an anti-monopoly probe into the takeover by General Motors (GM) of its former auto parts arm Delphi, in response to concerns raised by local carmakers, according to a Chinese media report.

Chinese carmakers and parts suppliers have expressed concern to the ministry that Delphi could discriminate against other customers in terms of price and product quality if the deal goes ahead, the Beijing Times reported on Thursday.

Delphi has called on the ministry to approve the takeover "as soon as possible", the report said. The deal has been approved in the US and the EU but still needs approval of other major markets including China.

Delphi was spun off from GM 10 years ago and has been in bankruptcy protection since October 2005. It entered China in 1995 and supplies almost all local automakers including Chery Automobile Co, Geely Automobile and Beijing Automotive Industry Holdings Co(BAIC).