General Motors taps eBay for online sales

General Motors customers may soon be able to buy a car through eBay

Embattled US automaker General Motors (GM) said that it is close to securing a deal to sell cars through eBay.

The company said in a statement on Friday that it is working with eBay on a new programme which would allow the company to sell cars directly to customers through the auction service.

EBay acknowledged that it had been in talks with GM, but said that no deal had been finalised.

GM chief executive Fritz Henderson is hopeful that an online auction deal with eBay will drum up sales by offering newer and easier ways to purchase vehicles. The company is currently in the midst of a rebuilding effort after filing for bankruptcy protection earlier this year.

"We are also working on new ways to make car buying more convenient for our customers, including an innovative new partnership with eBay in California to revolutionise how people buy vehicles online," said Henderson.

"Customers will be able to bid on actual vehicles just like they do in an eBay auction, including the option of choosing a predetermined 'buy it now' price."