White House pressures GM chief to quit

US automaker General Motors has confirmed the immediate resignation of Rick Wagoner as chairman and chief executive officer of the company.

"Rick Wagoner is stepping down as chairman and CEO, effective immediately," the US automaker said in a short announcement.

Wagoner, 56, was named president and CEO in 2000, and assumed the role of chairman in 2003.

The departure was at the request of the White House, US administration officials said, earlier.

The news comes as US President Barack Obama prepares to unveil additional restructuring efforts designed to save the domestic auto industry.

On Monday, Obama is to announce measures to restructure GM and Chrysler in exchange for additional government loans. The companies have been living on $US17.4 billion ($A25.29 billion) in government aid and have requested $US21.6 billion ($A31.4 billion) more.

Two people familiar with the plan said on Sunday that the Obama administration would give GM enough government aid to restructure over the next 60 days, while Chrysler will get up to $US6 billion ($A8.72 billion) and 30 days to complete an alliance with Italian automaker Fiat SpA.

Wagoner's departure indicates that more management changes may be part of the deal, but it is still unclear who will be in charge of GM.

The automaker recently promoted Fritz Henderson, its former chief financial officer, to become president and chief operating officer. Many in the company thought he would eventually succeed Wagoner.

Detroit-based GM issued a statement on Sunday saying that the company expects the administration to make an announcement about the automaker's restructuring soon but that "it would not be appropriate for us to speculate on the content of any announcement".

A person familiar with Chrysler's management said the company has been given no indication that the government would require any changes at the Auburn Hills, Michigan, company, which has been led by former Home Depot CEO Robert Nardelli since August 2007.

Wagoner, 56, has repeatedly said he believed it was better for him to lead GM through its crisis, but he has faced sharp criticism on Capitol Hill for what many politicians regard as years of missteps, mistakes and arrogance by the Detroit Three automakers.

Wagoner joined GM in 1977, serving in several capacities in the US, Brazil and Europe. He became president and chief executive in 2000 and has served as chairman and CEO since May 2003.

Wagoner, in an interview with The Associated Press in December, declined to speculate on suggestions from some members of Congress that GM's leadership team should step down as part of any rescue package.

"I'm doing what I do because it adds a lot of value to the company," Wagoner said.

"It's not clear to me that experience in this industry should be viewed as a negative, but I'm going to do what's right for the company and I'll do it in consultation with the (GM) board (of directors)."

Auto industry analysts credit Wagoner with doing more to restructure the giant automaker than any other executive. But given that he has been at GM's helm for so long, many of his critics say he moved too slowly to take on the United Auto Workers and shrink the company as its market share tumbled.

"Given the history, a change in management could hardly hurt and might do some good," Senator Charles Schumer said on Sunday.

Among his biggest accomplishments as CEO, Wagoner presided over a landmark contract agreement with the UAW in 2007. In that four-year agreement, the automaker successfully transferred nearly $US50 billion ($A72.67 billion) in health care liabilities to the union as it sought to reduce labour costs, especially huge liabilities to retirees.

In 2004, Wagoner sought to reduce GM's brands by shutting down the Oldsmobile line of cars - a costly project because it required huge payouts to dealers. He also sought to streamline the company by selling the company's defence unit, General Dynamics, for $US1.1 billion ($A1.6 billion) in 2003. He has also reduced the company's workforce by tens of thousands and closed factories around the country.