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The vehicles owned by the Obama administration's auto team could reflect one reason why Detroit's Big Three automakers are in trouble: The list includes few new American cars.


Among the eight members named Friday to the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry and the 10 senior policy aides who will assist them in their work, two own American models. Add the Treasury Department's special adviser to the task force and the total jumps to three.


The Detroit News reviewed public records to discover what many of the task force and staff members drove, but information was not available on all of the officials, and records for some states were not complete.


At least two task force members don't own a car, and there are still two open slots on the 10-member panel that will be filled by the secretaries of labor and commerce, who have not yet been appointed.


The co-chairs of the task force -- Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and White House National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers -- both own foreign automobiles.


Geithner owns a 2008 Acura TSX. He has also owned a 1999 Honda Accord and a 2002 Acura MDX. Summers owns a 1995 Mazda Protege.


Geithner is the president's designee for purposes of enforcing loan agreements with GM and Chrysler and must approve or reject any proposed transactions by either company that would cost $100 million or more.


While we're on the subject, President Obama traded in his Chrysler 300C for a more fuel-efficient Ford Escape Hybrid during the 2008 presidential campaign, and Vice President Joe Biden owns a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette -- a wedding gift from his dad.

Tags: Legislation, Manufacturers, Detroit Three, Legislation, Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry

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Members of the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry Prefer To Drive Imports was originally published by Green Car Advisor. Read the full story by clicking here.