The United States' three struggling carmakers were required to submit viable recovery plans to Congress on Tuesday if they had any hopes of getting their hands on federal aid, according to dpa. Congressional leaders last month rejected the carmakers' request for a total of 25 billion dollars to help them restructure and stay out of bankruptcy. Lawmakers said they needed more concrete details on the companies' recovery plans before considering the bail-out. Ford Motor Co unveiled its 33-page business plan Tuesday morning, requesting a 9-billion-dollar "bridge loan" to rescue it from a devastating economic crisis that has sharply curbed US auto sales. "For Ford, government loans would serve as a critical backstop or safeguard against worsening conditions, as we drive transformational change in our company," chief executive Alan Mulally said in a statement. The heads of Ford, General Motors Corp and Chrysler LLC will appear before Congress for hearings on Thursday and Friday to discuss their newest proposals.
