Washington - US auto suppliers could get up to 5 billion dollars in US government aid as they struggle to survive the recession.

The announcement on Thursday by the Treasury Department indicated that suppliers would get a guarantee that money owed them by the major car companies for products would be paid, Bloomberg financial news service reported.

General Motors and Chrysler have received lifelines of more than 12 billion dollars. The government task force on the auto industry crisis is to decide by March 31 whether the companies have come up with viable survival plans or if bankruptcy is the best alternative. (dpa)