GENERAL Motors Corp, the world's largest auto maker, may complete the sale of its Hummer sport-utility vehicle unit before the end of 2008, Chief Operating Officer Frederick Henderson said yesterday.

"We are trying to approach this on an urgent basis," Henderson said. "It could conceivably happen by the end of this year, but if it takes us to early next year, that's okay."

Several companies have shown interest in the sports-utility line, Henderson said. Media reports have suggested that possible bidders may include India's Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd and Tata Motors Ltd, as well as Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska's Russian Machines, according to Bloomberg News.

Chief Executive Officer Rick Wagoner said on June 3 that General Motors was reviewing Hummer for a possible revamp or sale after gasoline prices near US$4 a gallon caused deliveries to fall 36 percent from a year earlier in the five months through May - the most among any brand in the United States. GM, which posted a US$15.5 billion second-quarter loss, was also planning to sell more assets "on a global basis," Henderson said.

GM outlined in July plans to increase liquidity, including cutting an unspecified number of salaried jobs to help save US$10 billion annually. The Detroit-based company plans to generate US$4 billion to US$7 billion by selling assets and borrowing from banks.