Recent Comments:
GM quits renting, buys headquarters for $626 million {Autoblog}
May 10th 2008 12:22AM Kevin wrote: "... After all, the new CAFE standards haven't kicked in yet and the gas tax holiday means people don't care about fuel prices any more. ..."
The gas tax holiday is a bad trial balloon that Presidential Candidate Senator John McCain (R, AZ) tried to float and Presidential Candidate Senator Hillary R. Clinton (D, NY) tried to carry. The trial balloon is made of lead. However, fuel prices are made of helium. They continue to rise.
Jim Press and Chrysler clarify hybrid subsidy comments {Autoblog}
Apr 4th 2008 8:46PM While it is true that ethanol as a fuel is primarily about farm policy, it is a stretch to claim that it has nothing to do with the automobile industry. Currently, gasohol is being touted as an alternative to fossil fuel. In North America, this is a relatively recent development. Brazil has used alcohol as a fuel source for decades.
However, ethanol is mandated in Federal law as the oxygenate fuel additive in metropolitan areas where air pollution is a major problem. "Oxygenated" fuel additives are the prescription for cleaner burning fuel in internal combustion engines. This is not my field, but I have serious questions about it as a long-term solution to air pollution. Oxygenates also serve to raise the octane rating of fuel and that's a good thing. At any rate, Big Oil choose MBTE (methyl tertiary-butyl ether) as its oxygenate.
The farm lobby leveraged fears about the contamination of surface and ground water from leaking underground storage tanks to get the Feds to force Big Oil to switch from MBTE to ethanol. I have no idea how much danger MBTE poses for the environment and the public. However, only an idiot would claim that it is safer than ethanol.
The takeaway message is that ethanol has played a significant role in North American automobile policy for years now. The fact that the Government views it as a major component of our agriculture policy notwithstanding.
Jim Press and Chrysler clarify hybrid subsidy comments {Autoblog}
Apr 3rd 2008 2:24PM Our government subsidizes ethanol. It also subsidized those large SUVs that we love to hate.
Poll: Auto execs favor McCain by 70% {Autoblog}
Apr 2nd 2008 12:18PM @Dan
I agree. Automobile manufacturing executives like John McCain because he looks like them. However, I am not sure that just because McCain looks like them, that he also thinks like them. However, that is a distinct possibility.
The notion that the Democrats are going to destroy the American automobile industry in ludicrous. If for no other reason than the fact that too many Democratic voters work in the industry, this is not going to happen. However, the industry must understand that it is a new day that requires new ideas.
I haven't heard much about Hillary Clinton's positions plans for ensuring the health of the USA's automobile industry, but I have heard some of what Barack Obama has to say. Among his ideas is for the Federal Government to assist the American manufacturers in developing alternatives to the internal combustion engine.
This is particularly appropriate because most of us have recently learned that the Japanese government supported the development of hybrid drives for cars built there. Obama has shown that he is willing to work with industry to move it forward.
I suspect that the other candidates feel the same way. Despite the protests of a few nitwits about global warming, the fact is that all three Presidential candidates are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. CAFE is consensus legislation agreed to be the Federal legislature led by Democrats and the Republican President. The era of $3.50/gallon to $4.00/gallon fuel is placing a premium on fuel economy.
There is nothing to indicate that any of these challenges are going away anytime soon. Auto executives need to embrace the present and prepare for the future. John McCain is not shelter in the storm.
Sirius / XM merger approved by Justice Department {Autoblog}
Mar 24th 2008 5:57PM @imoore wrote "... Besides, it won't be much long before satellite radio goes away for good-I'll give it at least 3 more years."
Clearly, you have not been paying attention. This merger will dramatically speed the advance of satellite radio, especially in our automobiles. A major thrust will include mobile Internet access and TV.
However, if it were just radio, this would still be major. Between them XM and Sirius provide access to every game played in Major League Baseball, the NFL, the NBA, and the NHL. The two services provide access to virtually every major NCAA basketball and football game. Music of virtually every genre, comedy, news, public affairs, lifestyle programming, and so much more are available on hundreds of channels. Nowhere on Earth does terrestrial radio offer as much as XM and Sirius offer everywhere in the Continental USA.
Chrysler tapping consumers to design future products {Autoblog}
Mar 24th 2008 2:31PM @tanooki2003 wrote: "... Also swallow your pride, beg Mitsubishi to recreate a partnership with you bringing back DSM and allowing the designers of Mitsubishi to pick up the small and midsized car segment again. ..."
You do understand that the two-door Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Stratus were Mitsubishi products, don't you? It just baffles me how some people can get all misty over crap just because it comes from Nippon. Scions are ugly because Toyota is trying to build ugly cars to appeal to American youth. Without trying, Mitsubishi has the ugliest Japanese cars aimed at mainstream buyers. Its sales figures show just how successful it has been.
Chrysler offering in-car web access later this year {Autoblog}
Mar 24th 2008 1:33AM PJ wrote: "And in that time, you will no longer be the driver. ..."
Not at all. Integrated communications and autodriving are two different concepts. Neither is dependent on the other.
Chrysler offering in-car web access later this year {Autoblog}
Mar 23rd 2008 11:39PM AlexP wrote "I bet they could retool Onstar for Internet access."
Can and will. It will be either Onstar or XM.
Sometimes it seems that most readers of contributers to this site are 75 rather than 15. Next they will be complaining about the lack of crank starters and being forced to buy factory-installed fenders and bumpers.
Time marches on. It is easy to conceive of a time when our automobiles have completely integrated communications systems. Internet access, telephone, radio, TV, GPS, and telemetry will all work together.
You have a choice. Embrace the future. Or stick aluminum foil on your head and drive a 1920 Oakland.
New York '08 Preview: 2010 Pontiac sports truck, GM wants you to name it! {Autoblog}
Mar 16th 2008 12:48PM Daniel Dacey wrote " ... Now I understand the US does not have a car like that, but come on guys, is it that hard to understand that Pontiac want a new market and not just a truck? ..."
Not true. The US has had car-based trucks since 1957 when Ford introduced the Ranchero. GM entered the fray in 1959 when it introduced the Chevrolet El Camino. Since going on sale during the 1957 model year, they have never been off the road. You can rant and rave until you are blue in the face that the G8 ST is not a truck, but that does not change the facts. It is temporarily being called the G8 ST for G8 Sport Truck. That is what it is. The G8 ST will be registered in virtually every state as a truck. Unless Pontiac intends to limit its sales only to stupid people, then its buyers will understand that the G8 ST is a truck.
It is a truck. Get over it and move on.
New York '08 Preview: 2010 Pontiac sports truck, GM wants you to name it! {Autoblog}
Mar 15th 2008 8:16PM The G8 sedan has several problems that, hopefully, GM will fix. As a commercial product, it is being sold at a price and in such low volumes that it is virtually impossible to turn a profit. The declining US dollar and rising transport costs promise to make the business case only worse.
The G8 Ute is a mistake through and through. The Torrent is a station wagon. The Ute is a truck. What seems to get lost in minds of some here is that GMC is the truck side of GM's Pontiac/GMC Division. GMC should not offer roadsters and hatchbacks. Pontiac should not sell trucks. Just a few months ago, Putz said that Pontiac would be GM's sports sedan brand. If he can't stay focused for a year, then what chance does the brand have?
