GM Denies It’s Interested in BMW Alliance

General Motors Corp., the world’s biggest car maker, denied a Belgian newspaper report that it is interested in an alliance with BMW. La Libre Belgique quoted GM Europe President Michael Burns as saying the German auto maker “would be an ideal partner” for GM. The owner of the BMW and Rolls-Royce brands “operates in a luxury segment in which we are weaker,” he said, according to the newspaper. Kenneth Levy, a GM spokesman, said the quote attributed to Burns about BMW is “completely incorrect.” Detroit-based GM refused to provide an interview transcript. A message left with the newspaper was not immediately returned. BMW said it did not need to comment on the report since GM said it was untrue. Other speculation resurfaced that BMW’s chief would be ousted over heavy losses at its British Rover subsidiary. BMW has declined to comment on reports that Bernd Pischetsrieder, an engineer who took over the company’s top job in 1993, would be replaced at a supervisory board meeting today.