Posted on 08/15/2011 2:19:28 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
Obama to automakers: ‘You can’t just make money on SUVs and trucks’ By Andrew Restuccia - 08/15/11 02:37 PM ET
The country’s automakers should ditch their focus on SUVs and trucks in favor of smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, President Obama said Monday.
“You can’t just make money on SUVs and trucks,” Obama said during a town hall forum in Cannon Falls, Minn. “There is a place for SUVs and trucks, but as gas prices keep on going up, you have got to understand the market. People are going to try to save money.”
Obama has positioned the revival and reshaping of the auto industry as a major part of his administration’s push to improve the economy and create jobs.
“When I came into office they were talking about the liquidation of GM and Chrysler, and a lot of folks said you can’t help them, and it’s a waste of the government’s money to try and help them,” Obama said Monday. “But what I said was, we can’t afford to lose up to a million jobs in this country, particularly in the Midwest.”
Obama was speaking at the start of a three-day bus tour of the Midwest. He will visit Decorah, Iowa, later in the day.
The president said his administration “turned around” the U.S. auto industry and is calling on automakers to change the way they do business.
“They are gaining market share for the first time in years, but what we said was, ‘If we are going to help you, then you have also got to change your ways,’ ” he said.
The White House unveiled first-ever fuel efficiency rules for heavy-duty trucks last week. The standards come after the administration ratcheted up fuel economy standards for cars and light-duty trucks.
The administration negotiated the standards in a series of high-stakes closed-door meetings with industry. In the end, the White House won the endorsement of major automakers and truck companies.
Obama has touted the new standards as “the single most important step we’ve ever taken as a nation to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”
Later Monday, Obama touted the administration’s efforts to boost electric vehicles and advanced battery technology.
“That is the kind of approach that we have to take: Using the private sector, understanding that ultimately the private sector is going to be creating jobs, but also understanding that government can be an effective partner in that process, and nowhere is that more true than in rural America.”
Have to understand the market? WHAT IS HE TALKING ABOUT?
People buy SUVs and trucks to haul things. Groceries. Kids. Lumber. Tools. Those needs don't go away just because you decide at your central planning board that smaller, more fuel efficient cars are better.
Other than that, Obama, you are a moron.
Next thing you know, democrats at the local level will tell McDonald’s they can’t just make their money on burgers and fries...oh wait...
That seems to be Obama’s problem in a nutshell. He thinks companies can force a product onto a consumer. Hence he still thinks the Volt should be a success, the problem is the GM isn’t twisting customer’s arms hard enough to force them to buy it.
Hey Zippy this is NOT Kenya,and you will soon be gone!
He’s guiding them... he’s giving the auto companies market advice on future consumer preferences. What a doof.
His desired end state is to be able to tell Americans what kind of car they must drive. Just one more reason the healthcare mandate MUST be declared unconstitutional.
The GALL of this man!!
Yup, he is so ignorant on the free market that it’s downright scary.
Hello Obama. The reason why they keep making trucks and SUV’s is because of demand! If there wasn’t any demand than they wouldn’t be making them, Duh.
Maybe he can invent a small vehicle promotion department to go along with his new job department.
Even scarier; he might not even be on drugs!
Come on 2012 and free us of this commie pestilence.
Actually Obama can and does control commerce.
His 34 MPG CAFE standards requirement and his control of Government Motors does mean that automakers can not make a profit with trucks and SUV’s.
Obama has declared it so.
Bam, I don’t even know where to begin. Such an utter and complete wanna-be marxist dictator.
I don’t have a source for this...but I swear I heard not long ago that sales of SUVs and trucks was actually up....I think in comparison to other vehicles.... maybe I was dreaming it....
President Obama: “There is a place for SUVs and trucks, but as gas prices keep on going up, you have got to understand the market. People are going to try to save money.”
Telling automakers they have got to understand the market? That’s hilarious. Not only does Mr. President know everything about energy and health care, now he’s an auto industry expert (not bad for a community organizer). Maybe he should set SUV quotas for the industry. Like the automakers never considered making smaller, energy efficient cars, eh? Laughable!!!
It’s a mystery to me how anyone could still think this joker is doing a good job. Even race only goes so far.
>>The man is a marxist or an idiot.
He is both.
His Marxism is obvious in everything he does. His idiocy is that he believes that he can say something and it will happen. Then, he is surprised and angry when it doesn’t, so he lashes out and calls us all stupid for not obeying him. Then, when we don’t accept his scolding and get on board with his ideas, he gives up and tries another decree.
So all manufacturers (not just the automotive industry) should ditch their profitable lines to make politically correct products that nobody buys. What a (censored) genius! Another “Win The Future” idea!
Idiot and Marxist are redundant.
“They are gaining market share for the first time in years, but what we said was, ‘If we are going to help you, then you have also got to change your ways,’ ” - Obama
What Obama is saying is: we (the Obama administration) 'gave' you (taxpayer) money to 'save' your company, now we (the Obama administration) will make you dance to our tune. You'll manufacture the kinds of vehicles WE tell you to.
Classic fascist approach. Allow 'private' industry but control it, totally. See Nazi Germany.
What Obama said: ‘You can’t just make money on SUVs and trucks’
What the American People heard: “Bureaucrats in Washington are going to be deciding what you drive”.
And the longest week in history for Barry just refuses to end.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.