"We wouldn't be here today asking for this if we didn't have a high confidence level that we could weather the economic trough, continue to resize, make these gut-wrenching decisions to come out on the other side leaner, more agile, and for us, a higher quality, higher reliable product," he told the senate committee. A credit crunch has made it impossible for the automakers to borrow money privately and US auto sales, which last month hit a 25-year low, are expected to sink to between 10 and 13 million vehicles next year from recent averages of 15 to 17 million. Wagoner said GM will need 10 to 12 billion dollars to keep its operations running next year, while Nardelli and Ford chief executive officer Alan Mulally said they would each require about seven to eight billion dollars in loans. None were willing to guarantee they would not be back for more help if the situation worsened.