Top executives of Ford Motor have held an informal meeting with representatives of billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian’s Tracinda Corporation to discuss the carmaker’s plans.

Mr Kerkorian, who has in the past tried unsuccessfully to acquire Chrysler and to prod GM into an alliance with Renault and Nissan, first took a 4.7 per cent stake in Ford in April as he was impressed by turnround efforts led by Alan Mulally, its chief executive. He has since bought more shares to lift his stake to around 5.6 per cent.