Ford, GM Rescue Bankrupt Aussie Supplier

Faltering Australian supplier Autodom Ltd. is restarting its factories after its biggest customers, Ford and General Motors, agreed to guarantee its $6.5 million in debt.

Autodom, which makes body panels and other metal parts, idled its plants when it entered administration late last week. GM and Ford warned that parts shortages might force them to halt production within days.

The companies now say they expect minimal disruption to their operations. Autodom's other main customer, Toyota, says it has not been affected by the supplier's brief shutdown.

Autodom's court-appointed administrators will oversee the company's restructuring, which could include breaking up the business for sale.