There is a different between a company failing and the stock being worth anything. Even companies that fail don't necessarily go away. While this logic probably puts a floor on companies like this, at least until they actually file, I would caution against using that logic to make any investment thesis. Does the government care if Ford trades at $5, $4, $3, $2, or $1? The government allowed GM to fail, but did so in an orderly way so that it could continue to operate. The largest utility in California is currently 'bankrupt' but the electric is still on. That may be a poor example since the equity will be worth something post-emergence. But my point being, bankruptcy is this boogeyman term but unless you liquidate like Toys R Us, which won't happen to most of these companies. I don't think anyone is saying Ford or Boeing don't provide any economic benefit but is there enough value left over after the debt to justify current price? I'd just caution looking at a stock down 45%, investing because of some inherent government support when the equity is still worth $20 billion.
I'm not close enough to the OEMs but I don't think it's so much when they restart production as when they restart sales. Most of my focus has been on the casinos, restaurants, etc that are shut down. But they seem like they could rebound a lot faster once they open than someone going out and spending $20k on a new car in the middle of a recession. What do you think is more likely to happen? People drop their $1,200 stimulus on blooming onions and slot machines or a down payment on a car?