BRUSSELS (AP) -- European carmakers have requested more government help to ride out the recession, saying they expect to sell 15 percent fewer cars this year.
Car manufacturers' association ACEA called Tuesday for soft loans to help the industry invest in cleaner cars needed to hit EU climate change cars and hold onto high-skilled workers.
The companies say they want governments to give incentives to entice people to buy new cars and scrap older models. They also want to reduce the cost of hiring seasonal workers.
Carmakers employ some 2.2 million people directly in Europe. Another 10 million workers rely on the industry.
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