* Obama voices support for U.S. carmakers, workers

* Final names added to Obama cabinet list

* Obama: shareholders part of restructuring process

By Caren Bohan

CHICAGO, Dec 19 (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Barack Obama offered embattled U.S. automakers a promise and a threat on Friday, saying he hoped to create more autoworker jobs but only if carmakers do not squander the opportunity to reform.

Speaking after the outgoing administration of President George W. Bush offered $17.4 billion in emergency loans to Detroit's beleaguered "Big Three" car giants, Obama said he would work with both carmaker unions and management to rebuild the industry.

"My top priority in this administration is to create 2.5 million new jobs and I want some of those jobs to be in the auto industry," Obama said at a news conference.

He declined to say what, if any, changes he would make to the auto rescue plan announced by the White House after he takes office on Jan. 20, or whether he would entertain calls by the United Auto Workers union to remove what it called "unfair" conditions in the Bush bailout plan.

But he said his economic team would discuss with workers and management ways to ensure their collective survival, saying the chance to end bad management practices and reform the industry "must not be squandered".