Obama calls for shared sacrifice in auto bailout

President-elect Barack Obama says he wants to keep tough conditions on automakers that get federal loans. The companies must develop sustainable business models because it would be unacceptable "to keep them on their lifeline through taxpayer dollars in perpetuity," Obama told The Washington Post. Obama said industry restructuring will require "everybody, from labor to management to creditors to shareholders, giving something up." His comments contradict suggestions that the new administration will relax federal loan agreements reached last month with General Motors and Chrysler LLC, possibly with softer demands on the UAW.

General Motors board delays decision on favored Opel bidder

General Motors Co.'s new board of directors made no recommendation in favor of one of the two rival bidders for Opel, the company said on Tuesday. The board has been updated on the Opel sale process but because talks are continuing with Magna International and Belgian investment company RHJ International, no recommendation has been made, GM said in a brief statement. GM's new board of directors was expected to choose one of the two bidders at a meeting on Monday evening.

GM posts $6 billion loss, burns $10.2 billion in cash as sales fall

General Motors, facing a June 1 U.S. restructuring deadline to avoid bankruptcy, posted a $6 billion net loss in the first quarter and burned through $10.2 billion in cash as global auto sales plunged. GM had $11.6 in cash reserves on March 31, down from $14.2 billion at the end of the fourth quarter.