Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery may still have to overcome many hurdles to win regulatory approval for its controversial acquisition bid for the Hummer brand even after a crucial ministry signaled no rejection.

Tengzhong's bid for the now bankrupt US car giant General Motor's Hummer brand is "rational and normal" given the current global financial crisis, Yao Jian, a spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, told reporters yesterday.

Yao said his ministry, a key government body that has a say in the approval of Tengzhong's bid, had not yet received any application from relevant parties.