Washington ? President Barack Obama says General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC must emerge from their restructuring as “leaner, meaner” companies and that a substantial market awaits them if they make the right decisions.

Obama said in an interview broadcast Saturday on C-SPAN that the beleaguered automakers should aim to have product lines that appeal to consumers — and that means fuel efficient and high-performance vehicles that Americans hunger for.

He defended government intervention in the industry, saying the administration could not let either company simply dissolve.

“Our auto industry is the foundation for economies all across the Midwest,” Obama said, “and ultimately, for the country as a whole. And had we allowed GM or Chrysler simply to liquidate that would have been a huge anti-stimulus on the economy as a whole, and could have dragged us even deeper into recession or even depression.”