DETROIT - IF THE Detroit Three automakers have learned anything since their last trip to Washington, it's that the old way of doing business just won't fly.

So the decision by auto executives to travel in hybrid cars rather than corporate jets is just the start to overhauling their image as the industry pleads its case a federal bailout as large as $34 billion (S$51.9 billion).

Automakers 'should not be afraid to acknowledge their mistakes', said Mr Adam Mendelsohn, a partner in Mercury Public Affairs and former communications director for California Gov.

Arnold Schwarzenegger. 'It's not necessarily a weakness. It's actually a positive. It will send a very clear message that they intend to make changes.'

The CEOs of General Motors, Ford and Chrysler are making the roughly 525-mile (845-kilometre) trek from Detroit to Washington in hopes of securing loans to help them through the recession and the worst sales downturn in 25 years. Hearings are scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

Ford CEO Alan Mulally left for the capital on Tuesday afternoon in a small Ford Escape sport utility vehicle, which runs on gas and electricity.

Mr Rick Wagoner of GM departs on Wednesday in a hybrid Chevrolet Malibu. Chrysler LLC said its chief executive, Mr Robert Nardelli, would leave on Tuesday night, driving a hybrid Dodge Durango or Chrysler Aspen SUV.

The move to travel more like regular Americans comes after the CEOs' last visit for hearings in November turned into a public relations disaster.

Lawmakers learned that all three had flown in separate corporate jets to ask for the bailout dollars, and critics harangued the CEOs.

In an effort to curb bad publicity, Ford Motor Corp. and General Motors Corp. said their CEOs would take the wheel for at least part of the roughly nine-hour trip.

Ford also announced on Tuesday that it will sell its five corporate jets, and GM said it would close its corporate jet operations on Jan. 1 and try to sell the remainder of the lease time on its seven aircraft.

Chrysler spokesman Lori McTavish said the company rents two corporate aircraft on an as-needed basis from an aircraft company and does not own any jets.

The image of seeking help from the taxpayers while flying corporate jets will take a long time to live down. The executives were parodied on 'Saturday Night Live' and pilloried on radio, TV and Web sites.

'The idea of a CEO flying in on a jet to ask for a loan - that's something that today's media will absolutely seize upon,' Mr Mendelsohn said.

Mr Mulally, in an interview from the road on Tuesday, acknowledged the symbolism of driving.

'We need to demonstrate that we heard their concerns and show we are willing to change,' he said in an e-mail. 'This is a small way of showing that.'

Mr Mulally drove part of the way and did business by telephone, but not while behind the wheel, he said. -- AP