Honk if You Love Hypocrisy

Big Auto unveils efficient cars, continues to fight against strict efficiency standards

Posted at 1:28 PM on 14 Nov 2007

When the L.A. auto show opens to the public on Friday, automakers will flaunt hydrogen cars, super-efficient engines, electric vehicles, and hybrid SUVs -- leading some to wonder at the disconnect between car manufacturers' public-facing "green" ambitions and their vocal opposition to a significant increase in federal fuel-economy standards. "They're definitely saying one thing to Congress and one thing to consumers," says Phyllis Cuttino of the Pew Campaign for Fuel Efficiency. The head of the Alliance for Automobile Manufacturers protests that the slew of fuel-efficient technologies at the auto show proves that automakers are "putting their money where their mouth is." So, what about the money going to a lawsuit to keep states from increasing fuel-economy standards? Because the mouths don't talk much to the public about that.

sources: The Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, The Detroit News, The Michigan Daily

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Comments: (7 comments)

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Health care vs. innovation

One of the reasons the U.S. auto companies can't afford to innovate is the staggering sums of money they devote to health care for their workers and retirees. I recall hearing that they spend more on health care than steel. When are they going to start fighting hard for a national health care system that will help car companies focus on making cars instead of managing health care costs?

by meander at 10:49 PM on 14 Nov 2007

Just PR

Unfortunately hybrids, plug-in hybrids, hydrogen, bio-fuels etc. are all really just part of the propaganda campaign from the automobile industry to try and convince people that there is a future for the automobile. The green car is simply a carrot hung in front of people so they continue to drive their polluting cars with the illusion someday they will be able to drive a car that does not harm the environment. Unfortunately that day never comes. The last 40 years is clear evidence of that. It is time to say enough is enough and provide people with great transit and cycling facilities. The automobile industry has had its chance and blown it.

We won't get fooled again.

by racc at 9:49 AM on 15 Nov 2007

States mandating MPG

So, the governor of state A, looking for soundbites for the coming election, trumpets that mileage must improve by 20% in two years. The governor of state B, not to be outdone, announces that HIS state is going to be 30% more fuel efficient. Neither of these chuckleheads has to have any evidence that the goals can be met in the allotted time, nor do they have to bear any of the consequences, such as manufacturers having to build a different automobile package to meet each states requirements, nor do they have to feel the pain of the auto-industry workers who get laid off because there is no longer a market for the vehicles that were being built in the plants that got closed.
Just like spending free tax-payer money, politicians enact whatever laws make them look good to the electorate, because no-one can hold them accountable for the consequences of their grand-standing. Witness Illinois, a state whose finances are so far in the hole that there is no daylight, yet the governor, Blago the Witless, wants to spend half-a-billion dollars to give health insurance to anybody who will vote for him in the next election.
Which is why, IMHO, letting this most irresponsible class of politicians set such far-reaching standards is a really really BAD idea...

by edarnold41 at 11:10 AM on 15 Nov 2007

Hey Edarnold

Can you guess which political party spends the most public funds?

http://greyfalcon.net/debt.png
http://greyfalcon.net/doonsbury.png

-David Ahlport

by GreyFlcn at 8:37 AM on 16 Nov 2007

Anyways

That said, yes for the most part cafe standards are neccisary to push forward more net fuel efficiency.
http://greyfalcon.net/cafe.png

-David Ahlport

by GreyFlcn at 8:38 AM on 16 Nov 2007

Which party spends the most?

The one that has control of the pursestrings, of course. Or, using Illinois as the example, "When we're in office we're in, and we're out of office... we're also in." There is one trough, and the line form on both the Left and the Right.

by edarnold41 at 12:05 PM on 16 Nov 2007
[ Parent ]

CAFE standards

My point was that standards with major consequences are too important to be left up to local politics: much as I dislike the Federal legislature regulating industry, that's what they are there for, not the scrub team at the state and local level.

by edarnold41 at 12:09 PM on 16 Nov 2007
[ Parent ]

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