New York  - US automotive giant General Motors Corp on Thursday reported a 30.9-billion-dollar loss in 2008, the second- biggest in its 100-year history.

The final year tally came after fourth-quarter losses of 9.6 billion dollars, a figure that underscores the dire situation the company finds itself in as it battles for survival.

The losses came as sales plunged by double-digit figures in the recession-hit US economy. For the full year, sales dropped 17 per cent to 149 billion dollars.

Global industry sales in 2008 were down 5 per cent, compared to 2007 levels, and US sales dropped by 18 per cent.

"The revenue decline was predominantly due to the precipitous drop in sales amid record low consumer confidence in the US and sharply lower sales across all of GM's operating regions due to economic turmoil in the global markets," a GM statement said.

The largest US carmaker last reported a profit in 2004. Since then, its cumulative deficit has grown to 82 billion dollars.

The report came as GM CEO Rick Wagoner was preparing to ask the US Treasury Department for more funds to survive through 2009.

GM and Chrysler LLC have already received 17.4 billion dollars in emergency government loans. Last week, the two US industrial icons said they would need nearly 10 billion dollars in additional federal aid over the coming months to weather the ongoing recession and the worst industrywide downturn in a quarter century.

GM said it could need as much as 16.6 billion dollars by 2011 if the economy continues deteriorating.

"2008 was an extremely difficult year for the US and global auto markets, especially the second half," Wagoner said in a statement Thursday. "These conditions created a very challenging environment for GM and other automakers, and led us to take further aggressive and difficult measures to restructure our business.

"We expect these challenging conditions will continue through 2009, and so we are accelerating our restructuring actions. At the same time, we are continuing our commitment to exciting, fuel- efficient cars and trucks."

Faced with a government deadline of March 31 to submit proof that it can survive the economic crisis, GM has offered detailed proposals to slash labour costs, close manufacturing plants and dealerships and focus more on its core brands.

Its plan involves cutting 47,000 jobs worldwide over the next year, including 26,000 outside the United States, and shuttering another five plants. The company will sell or phase out at least three of its brands: Hummer, Saturn and Saab.

If GM cannot prove to a presidential task force that it has made the changes to survive, then it will have to pay back the borrowed money to the government and will get no more federal loans, according to the original terms of the agreement. (dpa)