Detroit’s Big Three carmakers on Thursday indicated they would accept a large measure of government control over the domestic US auto industry and its strategic restructuring decisions.

The move by Rick Wagoner, Alan Mulally and Bob Nardelli, the chief executives of General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler respectively, to accept a board, or an individual, to oversee the industry came in a hearing on Capitol Hill where members of Congress gave the carmakers a far warmer welcome than just two weeks ago.