Mulally: I hope that a car czar does not get into product strategy

Speaking at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, FoMoCo CEO Alan Mulally praised the incoming President-elect Barack Obama, but said that whoever is appointed “car czar” should not interfere with the automaker’s product plans.

“My god, I hope that a car czar does not get into the product strategy of the companies,” Mulally said during a dinner with journalists. “The product strategy has to be led by the companies.”

Mulally said that he’s very encouraged that Obama understands the challenges that face the auto industry and the U.S. economy, reports Automotive News.

Executives at Ford alsosaid that they are hopeful that Obama will put together a broad national energy policy that keeps consumer behavior in line with social interest on energy use.