UPDATE 7-Magna gets early nod in race for GM's Opel

* Germans show preference for Magna's Opel bid

* Magna sees 10,000 job cuts in Europe, Bochum hit hard

* NRW state and unions say Magna job plans unacceptable

* Magna says submits 700 mln euro offer with Sberbank (Adds details of Magna's bid in paragraphs 4-5)

By Noah Barkin and Christiaan Hetzner

BERLIN, May 22 (Reuters) - Magna International (MGa.TO) emerged on Friday as a favourite to acquire General Motors' GM.N Opel unit after top German officials said the Canadian car parts group had submitted a better plan than rival bidders Fiat (FIA.MI) and Belgian-listed private equity investor RHJ International (RHJI.BR).

At a briefing in Berlin, Magna co-Chief Executive Siegfried Wolf laid out the company's Opel plan for the first time, confirming it aims to team up with Russian partners but leave existing GM Europe managers to run the new group.

Crucially, Wolf vowed to retain all four Opel plants in Germany, where politicians face a federal election in September. [ID:nLM965064]

Late Friday, Magna said confirmed had teamed up with Russian bank Sberbank Rossii to submit a "non-binding indicative" offer to invest 700 million euro ($980 million) in Opel. It also said a portion of its investment would be guaranteed by the German government.