French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said on Monday she would consider strengthening the capital of France's battered carmakers if necessary. Lagarde said her ministry was in the middle of an "internal technical debate" with France's carmakers and that the measure was one option to be examined at a meeting on January 20 to seek ways in which to help the industry.
Lagarde listed the options to be examined at the meeting as: "that of the best financing of car credit, that of reinforcing carmakers' capital if necessary and, above all, structural action regarding the sector's branches," she told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting on French credit. A final programme for the January 20 meeting has yet to be announced but a representative of carmakers' association CCFA said themes would include technology, competitiveness in the sector and employment.