The $15bn bail-out of America's troubled auto industry has moved a step closer after the House of Representatives approved the plan, but Republican opponents are still planning to sink it in the Senate.

In a vote in Washington last last night, the bill was approved by 237 votes to 170. The legislation now moves to the Senate, where leading Republicans have already threatened to vote down the rescue package. They have attacked the notion of using taxpayers' money to support an industry that struggled to compete with nimbler foreign rivals.

Washington insiders have warned that getting the bailout through the Senate will be "fairly problematic".

"There is an entrenched group of conservative southerners that have no interest in seeing this bill passed," one source said.

Senate Republican Richard Shelby of Alabama has already threatened to halt the passage of the bill. The Democrats could prevent such procedural blocking tactics if they can muster 60 votes, but that would require up to a dozen Republicans to vote with them.

In an attempt to address concerns, the White House said that the loans could be recalled unless the Big Three carmakers - General Motors, Chrysler and Ford - can convince a new "car tsar" that they are committed to wide-ranging restructuring.

Joel Kaplan, deputy chief of staff, said the legislation disbursing the funds was a "bridge to fundamental restructuring or bankruptcy".

General Motors and Chrysler have both warned that they will collapse before January unless they receive a cash injection. Ford, which says it does not desperately need new cash, wants a long-term credit line. The $15bn (£11bn), which is much less than was originally requested, would come from a fund set up to support the production of energy-efficient vehicles.

Under the proposal, the government is also expected to take non-voting shares in the three companies.