Republican senators on Tuesday attacked US car industry pleas for a bail-out, arguing that the Detroit-based companies should consider bankruptcy protection instead.

At a Senate hearing where the chief executives of the big three US manufacturers – General Motors, Ford and Chrysler – made their case for an emergency $25bn (€20bn, £17bn) loan, the Republicans on the panel almost unanimously made clear their doubts about extending such aid, highlighting the obstacles to a Democratic push to grant such assistance this year.