GM, Chrysler seek a combined $21.6B more in loans to survive

— -- In return, they promised the government, they will slice even more people and plants to cut costs, while still investing to develop and market fuel-efficient vehicles in the next two years that will bring wary buyers back to their showrooms. That would generate the revenue they will need to repay government loans.

The additional loan amounts are detailed in plans the car companies were required to file with the federal government Tuesday to avoid having to immediately repay the $17.4 billion in emergency loans they were granted in December — $4 billion for Chrysler, the rest for GM.

More work is needed, the White House hinted. "It is clear that, going forward, more will be required from everyone involved — creditors, suppliers, dealers, labor and auto executives themselves — to ensure the viability of these companies," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday night.

In the few weeks since they got the first loan deal, the auto market has caved in even further, meaning the staggering car companies now need more federal loan money to stay alive.

"In the 11 weeks since our initial filing, the market has significantly deteriorated, and global volumes have been significantly reduced," requiring a boost in how much help is needed, Rick Wagoner, GM's CEO said.

If the government says yes to the new requests, it would bring the total in emergency loans to $39 billion, more than doubling the price tag for rescuing the Detroit auto business.

Combined with billions of dollars in government relief that foreign car companies are seeking from their governments, the picture is one of an unstable auto industry, closing shop unbelievably fast as a worldwide recession and credit freeze chokes off buyers.