Austrian-Canadian automotive supplier Magna International Inc. (MGA) and Russian car manufacturer Gaz Russia (GAZA.RS) will place a joint bid for troubled German carmaker Opel before the offer deadline expires at 1800 GMT, a person close to the deal told Dow Jones Newswires Wednesday.

"You can safely assume that Magna and its partners will present its concept for a takeover of Opel today," the person said, declining to give further details.

"Even if the deal is successful, Magna will continue to perceive itself as an automotive supplier, not a car manufacturer," the person said, thereby indicating that Magna itself doesn't pursue a majority stake in Opel.

Gaz is Russia's second-largest carmaker. It has previously been reported that Russia's Sberbank (SBER.RS) would be the primary financier of a joint bid by Gaz and Magna.

Opel is being sold after its owner, U.S. giant General Motors Corp. (GM), ran into financial difficulty and was pushed into a comprehensive restructuring of the company.

-By Flemming E. Hansen, Dow Jones Newswires; +43 1 513 69 22 10; flemming.hansen@dowjones.com