FILE PHOTO: The Opel headquarters are pictured during the TechDay Opel in Ruesselsheim, Germany June 11, 2018. REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski/File Photo

BERLIN (Reuters) - The German government’s aim is to ensure that Opel retains research and development activities in Germany after the brand’s sale to Peugeot, an economy ministry spokesman said on Wednesday when asked about reports that a research site could be closed.

“I don’t want to comment or speculate on press reports, but what is clear is that we have a position on Opel and the minister has always said that the aim must be to keep jobs, sites and also research and development in Germany,” the spokesman told a regular government news conference.

Le Monde newspaper reported on Tuesday that France’s PSA was looking to sell part of Opel’s R&D operations to help to restore profitability to the loss-making unit.