Too little and too late for "green" Big 3?

By Peter Bohan

DETROIT (Reuters) - Carmakers at the world's premier auto show have pinned their hopes on "green" models but for some companies the immediate future is shaping up as a battle for survival.

U.S. auto sales dropped by 18 percent in 2008 to a 16-year low of 13.2 million, pushing financially strapped General Motors GM.N and Chrysler to the brink of collapse.

In December the two were approved for $17.4 billion (11.8 billion pounds) in emergency government loans. But the money has conditions that must be met as early as March and include more concessions from the United Auto Workers union and company debt holders.

"People are wondering, 'Is the company going to make it? Is the company going to be viable?'" GM Chief Operating Officer Fritz Henderson told reporters at the Detroit auto show.

Henderson, vice chairman Bob Lutz and other GM executives said they were confident GM could make the changes it needs to turn itself around with U.S. government support. But they also indicated they could need further help along the way.

Ford Motor (F.N) has not asked for government loans but told lawmakers last year it wanted a $9 billion line of credit from the government in case the U.S. economy worsens.

"We still believe there is a good chance for a recovery starting in the second half," Ford's Chief Financial Officer Lewis Booth said on Monday.

Display rooms at the cavernous Cobo Centre were filled as usual with dozens of shiny cars, trucks and other vehicles, with staff feather-dusting the models and media milling around a reduced number of exhibits.