General Motors has given its most categorical assurance to date that European division Opel will not be put up for sale.

Fevered speculation has swirled for the past few weeks concerning any potential disposal of Opel with Detroit appearing to maintain a firm – and silent – distance.

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However, comments made today to just-auto by GM in Germany indicate the automake is finally looking to lay to rest the rumours that have continued to dog the company for so long.

GM CEO Dan Akerson yesterday (27 July, 2011) visited the Detroit Hamtramck plant which builds the Chevrolet Volt – for a ceremony to mark the start of contract negotiations with the UAW union – and appeared to take the speculation head-on with a German spokesman for the company confirming: “He [Akerson] said: ‘In general we don’t comment on speculation, but let me say this, Opel is not for sale.’ I don’t think you can be any clearer than that – that answers in full.”

Whispers first started circulating some while ago concerning any sale with the smart money betting on sources emanating from Germany although GM insisted the speculation did not originate from the automaker.

“Indications are it originated with a German source,” said the GM spokesman. “Everybody could probably come up with explanations.”

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Akerson’s comments support a discussion Opel CEO Nick Reilly recently had with just-auto in which the European chief urged speculators to “look at the facts,” before jumping to conclusions.

“GM did say officially at the supervisory board [it] is very happy with the turnaround of Opel/Vauxhall,” Reilly said earlier this month. “We are ahead of the game. Just look at the facts and look at what GM is saying.”

Opel recently posted a profit in Europe for the first quarter. The automaker also increased market share for the seventh month in a row on a year-on-year basis.