While the US car industry was contemplating a possible merger of lossmaking General Motors and Chrysler this week, attention turned to fresh wobbles at Ford Motor.

Kirk Kerkorian, the 91-year-old scourge of Detroit's boardrooms, said he was selling some of his more than 6 per cent stake in Ford, and might sell all of it. His Tracinda Corpannounced the investment in April, describing it as a vote of confidence in the turnround efforts of Ford chief executive Alan Mulally.