Kerkorian, who took a 4.7 per cent stake in the manufacturer last April, has since increased his share holding to around 5.6 per cent.

Ford has since announced that it will probably not be profitable next year in North America as planned. In a statement, the manufacturer said: “The informal meeting was positive and a chance for the leaders of both companies to discuss elements of Ford’s transformation plan that we have announced publicly. “We continue to welcome confidence in Ford by our various stakeholders.” Ford’s share price has dropped 34 per cent to $6.60 (£3.35) over the last 12 months.