DETROIT -- Next week, officials for Chrysler LLC, General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Company, will head to Washington to make their case for an auto industry bridge loan.

This comes as President-elect Barack Obama, who has said the auto industry is one of his priorities, considers choosing an auto industry expert for his administration -- an automotive czar.

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm is part of Obama’s economic transition team, but said Thursday during a visit to Detroit that she will not be testifying in Washington for the automakers.

“I will not be. The automotive CEOs are going to testify,” she said. “And, obviously, I’ll allow the Obama team to decide whether, and who, they would appoint as an automotive czar.”

Automotive analyst Jim Hall said if an automotive czar was to be named the industry would get someone who could bridge a communication and understanding gap between Detroit and Washington.

Hall said the czar would “make the administration aware of the state of the industry and to no small degree their actual capabilities.”

A task, Hall said, would be a tough one.

Although the identity of a czar is unknown at the moment, Center for Automotive Research Director, Dr. David Cole, could have a part in choosing one.

Cole is in touch with Obama’s transition team.

“We believe we that we have a very good pathway into the administration to make sure that they use good judgment in how they deal with the auto industry,” Cole said.

The Automotive News is reporting that Daniel K. Tarullo, an Obama economic adviser, could be a candidate for the position.

Tarullo is also a professor at Georgetown University’s Law Center and an expert in international law.

Tarullo was not available for comment.

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