Ford CEO Will Return to Washington by Car

Ford Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov....

Ford Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008, before a House Financial Services Committee hearing on the automotive industry bailout. ord says CEO Alan Mulally will make the 520-mile trek from Dearborn, Mich., to Washington by car.

(Gerald Herbert/AP Photo )
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When the men who run Ford Motor Co., Chrysler LLC and General Motors Corp. return to Washington later this week to seek government loans, they'll make sure traveling by corporate jet doesn't become ammunition for their critics again.

Ford says CEO Alan Mulally will make the 520-mile trek from Dearborn, Mich., to Washington by car, and GM CEO Rick Wagoner also is considering ground travel, although the company won't say for certain how he'll get there for security reasons.

A Chrysler spokeswoman says CEO Robert Nardelli will not go by corporate jet, but also wouldn't disclose his travel method for security reasons.

All three were harangued by critical lawmakers last month when they first appeared before Congress to seek $25 billion in emergency loans. GM, Chrysler and Ford all are spending billions more than they are taking in due to the worst U.S. auto sales slump in 25 years, and GM and Chrysler are running perilously low on cash and may not be able to pay all their bills by the end of the year.

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Ford is in better shape, but only because it borrowed billions last year, before the credit markets froze up. The company says it can make it through 2009 and may not need government loans.

Yet all three, plus United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger, will return to Washington for a Thursday hearing before Senate Banking Committee and a House Financial Services Committee hearing on Friday.

Gettelfinger flew commercial airline last month and will do the same this week, spokesman Roger Kerson said in an e-mail.

Last month, committee members skewered the executives for not giving detailed plans and for flying in separate corporate jets to seek a bailout.

Ford spokesman Mark Truby said in an e-mail Monday that Mulally will travel on the ground. Union members in Lordstown, Ohio, said they were told to prepare for a visit from Wagoner while en route to Washington this week, but that was later canceled.

A person familiar with Wagoner's travel plans said Monday he may yet go on the ground. The person didn't want to be identified because the plans have not been finalized.