Washington - The US government is weighing taking an equity stake in General Motors Corp, Bloomberg financial news reported Tuesday citing people familiar with the negotiations. The largest US carmaker faces a June 1 government deadline to further restructure or lose government support designed to keep the industry afloat through the economic crisis and declining demand for US-made cars.

According to the Sunday Times, an 800-million pound refinancing loan for the Tata-owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) appears to be on the cards, given the "advanced talks" of the company with British ministers and a banking syndicate led by the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds TSB.

The talks have been somewhat slow since November 2008, with officials being overwhelmed by "the size and power of the vast Tata business empire."

Tata Group-owned British car maker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has entered into the advanced stages of talks with the British government and banks on a loan of £800 million (Rs 5,840 crore), which could help the company on stream and save 15,000 jobs.

According to reports, talks were at a delicate stage and depended upon whether the Midlands-based car manufacturer could give enough security to the administration and a syndicate led by Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds for the loans needed.

Nissan Motor Company, a multinational auto manufacturer, has big plans for India.

The Japanese company aims to launch 4-5 models by the next four years
out of which the first car would roll out before summer 2010.

Mr. Kiminobu Tokuyama, Nissan Motor India's Managing Director and CEO,
said, “We propose to launch four to five models over the next four-five
years in the Indian market. Our first car is scheduled for launch by
summer 2010.”

Nissan is establishing Rs 4,500-crore car-manufacturing plant in

Though the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) anticipates a revival of the industry this fiscal and accelerated growth in 2010, automobile manufacturers are apprehensive about the same.

The first phase of bookings for the Rs. 1-lakh 'dream car' Tata Nano began on Thursday, April 9, with crowds thronging the Tata Motors showrooms, and specially-opened booking counters in banks, including State Bank of India, which is Tata Motors' key partner in selling and receiving the booking forms.

The forms, costing Rs. 300, are also available at Tata Indicom centres, Titan showrooms, Westside and Croma stores. The booking for the wonder car - which can also be done online - will close on April 25.