General Motors and Chrysler need at least $21.6 billion (£15.1 billion) in extra taxpayers’ cash to survive, according to restructuring plans filed with the US Treasury last night.

Allowing GM to go bankrupt would cost America more than $100 billion in Government assistance, the company said, as it submitted its request for more bailout money.

The struggling carmakers also yesterday revealed plans to slash thousands more jobs, eliminate dealerships and drop makes of vehicles in a desperate attempt to convince the Government that their businesses were viable.

But Robert Gibbs, President Barack Obama’s spokesman, refused to rule out bankruptcy at the troubled companies. They were forced to submit restructuring plans as part of an original bailout agreement reached last December. GM, which received a $13.4 billion injection from the Government under that agreement, said that it needed $9.1 billion more to stay afloat, or as much as $16.9 billion in additional aid if the economy continued to deteriorate.

Saab, its Swedish subsidiary, could file for bankruptcy protection “as early as this month” if it does not get help from the Swedish Government.

GM said that it would cut 47,000 jobs around the world by the end of this year, 10,000 more than expected, and close five extra US factories by 2012. The company will shutter its Hummer truck brand this year and its Saturn car brand in 2011 if there is no alternative, it said. It is still in talks over the reduction of its $47 billion debt mountain, which the Government requires it to cut as part of the agreement.

Chrysler, which received $4 billion as part of the December agreement, requested a further $5 billion. It announced 3,000 job cuts, on top of 32,000 announced last year, and said that it would slash vehicle production by 100,000 vehicles, including a complete halt on the production of the Dodge Aspen, Durango and Chrysler PT Cruiser. It added that it planned to push ahead with a joint venture agreement with Fiat, the Italian car maker.

Times Recommends

• Lies and cover-up at MG Rover exposed by report
• High oil prices push manufacturing costs up
• Primark founder steps down as chief executive