General Motors Co Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra embarked on a charm offensive to win German support for a sale of Opel to PSA Group as the French automaker tried to alleviate concerns that a combination would lead to a massive overhaul of the brand.

Barra and GM President Dan Ammann plan to meet with German government officials at some point in the near future, according to a source. She also sent a memo to staff in Germany and the US saying the deal would be good for GM's future growth plans, shareholder value and for the longevity of Opel's German operations, the person said.

For his part, PSA CEO Carlos Tavares is open to maintaining Opel's current management structure and intends to keep the unit as a German company and brand, said a person familiar with Tavares's thinking. GM and Peugeot declined to comment.