The answer, I think, is that Congress has failed to translate the influx of money to banks to consumers to get loans, etc. The Fuel efficiency crisis may be an “American” thing as GM has very efficient cars in other nations but they are not for sale in the US. GM has their hand in other companies all over the world, but we have Congress who wants to be on TV.
Cars wear out and we have to buy them from someone, who will it be?
GM makes this car and it gets 113 MPG and can go 140 MPH:
http://www.flixxy.com/fuel-economy-performance-car.htm