DETROIT — With General Motors' long-anticipated day of reckoning a little more than a week away, nearly all signs are pointing to the wounded auto giant limping its way into bankruptcy court, but experts say that might not be as bad as once expected.

Car and truck buyers, they say, may not be as fearful of Chapter 11 as once thought, as evidenced by Chrysler's stronger-than-expected sales in the two weeks after it took the dreaded step into court.

"I think in this case and in the eyes of the consumer, uncertainty is the enemy," said Jeff Schuster of J.D. Power and Associates. "Once they know what happened, it at least is better than uncertainty."

GM has received $15.4 billion in federal loans and faces a June 1 government-imposed deadline to finish restructuring or be forced into bankruptcy court. Restructuring demands from President Obama's administration include cutting labor costs, reducing debt, shedding dealerships and brands, and closing excess factories.

The company this week reached cost-cutting deals with its unions that still have to be ratified by members, but GM's unsecured bondholders have resisted an offer to take a 10 percent stake in the company to wipe out $27 billion in debt.

LIDDY LEAVES AIG'S RESHAPING TO OTHERS

NEW YORK — After creating a plan to radically alter American International Group Inc.'s operations to help repay billions in government loans, chief executive Edward Liddy is leaving his vision for the insurer in the hands of a whole new set of managers.

On Thursday, Liddy said he was stepping down from both roles at a time when AIG will add six new directors to its board and is reshaping itself by spinning off or selling large parts of its operations.With a shake-up among its decision makers, new management will have the opportunity to continue with Liddy's plan to further reshape the company, or put their own stamp on how to create a leaner, more efficient AIG.

FDIC TAPS BIGGER BANKS TO FILL FUND

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators yesterday adopted a new system of special fees paid by U.S. financial institutions that will shift more of the burden to bigger banks to help replenish the deposit insurance fund.

The move by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. cut by about two-thirds the amount of special fees to be levied on banks and thrifts. It followed protests by small and community banks — with powerful allies in Congress — against a plan adopted in February that charged premiums based on the amount of deposits. The smaller institutions insisted they would be unfairly hit even though they didn't contribute to the financial crisis with reckless lending.