General Electric may be a potential bidder for Fiat's aerospace unit Fiat Avio. Other prospective buyers include Italian company Finmeccanica,French group SNECMA and US private equity fund, The Carlyle Group.

Fiat Avio is valued at 1.5 - 2bn euros.

Sources have said bids were expected to be placed on Sunday, but media reports on Monday said Finmeccanica had asked for more time, sparking rumours that the sale might be in trouble.

"There will be no problem selling Fiat Avio because there are others bidders (besides Finmeccanica and SNECMA)," a source told Reuters on Monday.