Spanish authorities have said the aid would be used to support the development and production of hybrid and electric vehicles, boost credit to help people buy cars and improve transport logistics for the sector.

The plan is also meant to safeguard jobs in the sector which currently employs some 350,000.

In recent months, manufacturers such as Ford, General Motors and Volkswagen AG's SEAT division have announced job and production cuts. The sector accounts for 20 percent of Spain's exports.

Car sales in Spain plummeted by 28 percent last year, the worst slump on record.

The EU is already investigating a similar aid package French authorities are giving to French carmakers. Van Lierop said France had submitted the required information on their bailout late Tuesday.

'We are studying this carefully,' he said.

The EU said earlier this month that it was concerned France's euro7.5 billion auto bailout could harm other European carmakers.

France is offering low-interest loans in return for car companies' promises not to lay off workers this year or close factories.

EU regulators' worries about the French plan builds on Czech and Swedish fears that France's help for its national industry is protectionist and could undermine competition across the 27-nation bloc.