Senior congressional aides in the US have said that Democrats in Congress and the White House have reached agreement on emergency aid for US automakers.
Another aide said negotiators had agreed in principle to the outline of the $15-17bn rescue package, but that details have to be worked out.
The news comes as data showed that more than 533,000 jobs had been lost in November, the highest monthly job loss in the US in 34 years.
Congress and White House officials will hold talks over the weekend. Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she wanted a vote on the package next week.
