Ping!
When are we going to stop interfering with the markets? I say let the car companies sink or swim.
If we had domestic oil this never would have happened. This entire collapse is due to not having affordable energy thanks to Congress and Do Nothing Nancy wants to make it worse.
Pray for W, McCuda and Our Troops
Ford recently announced that it has a new diesel passenger vehicle that will average 65 MPG.
Can’t wait to get one? Ford will only sell them in Europe. The “brains” at Ford “believe that the American consumer has not accepted diesel personal vehicles”.
These morons won’t even try to sell this car here because WE AMERICANS are too STOOOOOOOPID.
Ford should go bankrupt with IDIOTS like this at the helm.
I feel no pity for them what so ever.
25B?
These days, that’s chump change!
I told you so...
I read recently that if Detroit could produce a full size vehicle that would get around 35 mpg then that could be a similar boost to the US auto makers that Chrysler started with its mini-van back in the 80s. Add to that wish list durability; say 350,000 miles to first scheduled engine overhaul. Long service intervals; say 10,000 miles between oil changes. A quiet, comfortable ride at all speeds. Priced and financed in a way people can afford.
Well, I’m driving one right now! My Mercedes E320 Bluetec so far is getting an average of 32.8 mpg (4700 miles). With 398 lb-ft of torque it accelerates like a Detroit muscle car from days gone by and the drive quality is wonderful. Several people that have gone for drives with me in it have expressed surprise that it’s a diesel, it is so quiet. Unfortunately, not built in Detroit, I wish Detroit had something similar. I wonder why Mercedes-Benz will not use its clean diesel technology in its Chrysler division, perhaps they will the technology is simply so great a leap it is hard to see how it could not get a great reception with the American car buyer once properly introduced.
FORD
4th-generation Fiesta (coming late fall 2009)
3rd-generation Focus (coming some time in 2010)
4th-generation Mondeo (coming in 2012, which may keep the Fusion name)
2nd-generation Kuga (coming in 2012)
GM
3rd-generation Chevrolet Aveo (coming in 2010)
I/D-generation Opel Astra (to be sold under Saturn label by 2010)
2nd-generation Opel Meriva (likely to be sold under Chevrolet label by 2010)
Chevrolet Cruze (coming fall 2009 to North American market)
I remember when the small trucks first appeared and Japan started cleaning Detriot’s clock. The automakers lobbied Congress to put a tariff on those imports. Congress obligingly slapped a $500 tariff on the Jap trucks. The automakers immediately raised the prices of their trucks $400 and when some in Congress yelled WTF? the automakers replied they were “just being competitive”.
If these bozos get that $25 billion, you can expect the first bucks will go for bonuses for the CEOs.
The only reason I see that a bailout is needed is because of a do nothing congress in regards to a viable National Energy Plan.
Note they are talking a bailout=negative feedback loop
vs.
What was proposed and stopped from getting to the floor of the House.
H.R.6566
American Energy Act (Introduced in House)
SEC. 218. NEXT GENERATION AUTOMOBILE PRIZE PROGRAM.
The Secretary of Energy shall establish a program to award a prize in the amount of $500,000,000 to the first automobile manufacturer incorporated in the United States to manufacture and sell in the United States 50,000 midsized sedan automobiles which operate on gasoline and can travel 100 miles per gallon
Ford is already selling a car in Europe that gets 65 mpg, yet they won’t sell it here because they claim it will cost $800 more than the Toyota Prius hybrid.
Anybody besides me think that’s absurd and does not warrant taxpayer dollars to help out the sheer stupidity of such a company ?
I can’t get over the fact that Ford has an EU car that gets 50+ miles to the gallon (on diesel)and could run very well in America, but it does not “fit their present business model.” Why are we going to save them? Ford and Gm have e85 cars in Brazil, but they have a hard time getting them to market in America. What is wrong with that picture? I know that these smart guys are helping to make America a great manufacturing country, but down south, BMW, Hundyi, Toyota and Mercedes etc. etc. are not looking for a handout.
At least someone used the word “loan” and not “bailout” in the title, unlike what the media/talk radio has been doing for the past month.
There are days when the fairness doctrine for radio sounds like a fantastic idea.