GM ending Epcot Test Track sponsorship?

The 10-year contract between Disney and General Motors Corp. expires this year and GM is publicly considering foregoing any renewal of the company's sponsorship of Test Track, one of Epcot's most popular attractions.

GM lost $31-billion last year and is relying heavily on government loans to stay afloat. In addition, the company has warned government officials that the company could go bankrupt without $16.6-billion on top of the $13.4-billion it has has already received as part of the "bailout" funding.

"We're still in discussions with them and haven't made a decision," GM spokeswoman Kelly Cusinato told Orlando Sentinel. "It's definitely one that I think people are doing everything they can to preserve."

The end of the deal could hurt Disney's bottom line in a time when Disney is slashing prices on hotel and ticket prices in an attempt to keep guests visiting in through the slow economy. While neither company would directly discuss the terms, Automotive News reported last month that GM pays disney almost $5-million a year in sponsorship fees.

"We continue to have a relationship with General Motors and are having ongoing discussions about continuing our relationship," said Disney spokeswoman Kim Prunty.

If negotiations between GM and Disney fall through, there are few - if any - auto manufacturers that would be willing to commit to any long-term contract with Disney, considering the deep effects the global recession has had on the industry as a whole.

Orlando Sentinel reports that marketing executives at Toyota Motor Corp. have held internal discussions mulling over the prospect of sponsoring Test Track. However, Joe Tetherow, spokesman for Toyoto Motor Sales USA, said "it would be premature to speculate on what's going to happen."

"We're cutting a lot of costs right now," Tetherow said. "But, obviously, there's going to be opportunities from time to time that come along that we might want to take a look at."