Some of Europe's carmakers are having to throw financial lifelines to their dealers.

Today's Financial Times reports that in Germany Daimler and Volkswagen have created emergency programmes to prop up ailing dealers.

Volkswagen wants to stop the collapse of sales networks which have been built up over years.

The FT also reports a research note by Credit Suisse, which stated that carmakers would have to financially support the business partners' balance sheets, at both the dealer and component supplier ends.

Carmakers can also help dealers build their customer base or reduce costs by temporarilty easing standards.