CAR makers want the European Commission to lend them 40 billion euros (US$55 billion) to help develop environmentally friendly vehicles, after a similar United States move, Fiat SpA Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne said at the weekend.

The US Congress on September 27 approved legislation providing US$25 billion in low-interest loans to the domestic auto industry after manufacturers including General Motors Corp, Ford Motor Co and Chrysler LLC said they needed taxpayers' help to finance the production of more fuel-efficient cars, Bloomberg News reported.

'We've seen that the US industry is now getting US$25 billion worth of support in terms of financing,' Marchionne said in an interview at the Paris Motor Show. 'It would be absolutely necessary that the European Commission do exactly the same thing. It was US$25 billion for the US, in our case it's 40 billion euros because we have twice the capacity.'

The European Union is debating legislation that would cut average car emissions of carbon dioxide by a fifth to 130 grams a kilometer by 2012. The target would be achieved by varying goals for individual manufacturers. The commission has estimated average car prices may rise by 1,300 euros because of the new technology required.