The chief executives of Ford Motor and Chrysler threw their weight yesterday behind an intense lobbying effort by the beleaguered US motor industry to secure congressional approval for $25bn in low-cost loans.

Ford's Alan Mulally and Chrysler's Bob Nardelli were expected to underline the need for assistance at a time when capital markets have become increasingly inhospitable to the carmakers and their suppliers. Mr Nardelli was due to spend almost the entire day on Capitol Hill.