General Motors and Chrysler, on the verge of bankruptcy, and with news of the potential bailout on hold while President Bush is in Iraq, are scrutinizing their budgets line-by-line, hoping to last long enough for the president to return. Both companies have said they will run out of cash by the end of the year, now only a few weeks away. General Motors plans to idle 20 North American factories for the first quarter, and Chrysler will shut down its S.U.V. factory in Delaware. The companies are also looking at smaller details, cutting lights earlier, reducing parking and cafeterias, or stocking regular vs. mechanical pencils. The companies have also pared down sponsorship of high-profile events and the Annual North American International Show. The Big Three (G.M., Chrysler, and Ford) have laid off 150,000 employees together since 2006.
See "After its big cuts, Detroit makes lots of small ones", Bill Vlasic, The New York Times, December 14, 2008