Counsel for automotive suppliers for months have implored them to shore up their liquidity and review contracts with customers and subsuppliers ahead of a potential strike Thursday night by the United Auto Workers against the Detroit 3 automakers.

A strike would test how well the nation's more than 5,600 automotive suppliers have prepared. Many barely survived production slowdowns during the pandemic, and now some lawyers warn a prolonged strike could plunge suppliers into bankruptcy.

"All automotive suppliers are on standby to see if they will continue to ship parts tomorrow and beyond," Ann Marie Uetz, a bankruptcy partner at Foley & Lardner and an automotive supply chain expert, said.