Autoblog

REPORT: Senator John McCain doesn't believe Chrysler will make it

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Chrysler, Earnings/Financials

It looks like everyone is thinking about Chrysler these days. First it was former DaimlerChrysler CEO (and current Daimler CEO) Dieter Zetsche offering advice to Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne. Now it looks like former presidential contender and current Arizona Senator John McCain not only thinks that bailing out the ailing automaker was a bad idea (even though he supported bailing out Detroit during his 2008 presidential campaign), he thinks that Chrysler has no future. Here's a quote that comes via The Detroit News:

"It was all about the unions. The unions didn't want to have their very generous contracts renegotiated so we put $80 billion into both General Motors and Chrysler, and anybody believes that Chrysler is going to survive, I'd like to meet them."

While McCain's never been one for pulling punches, this may be one head butt over the top. Chrysler declined to comment on McCain's statements. Ironically, McCain made his comments while serving as grand marshal of a NASCAR event at the Phoenix International Raceway as Dodge announced its new Nationwide Series Challenger racer.

[Source: Detroit News | Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty]

REPORT: Senator John McCain doesn't believe Chrysler will make it originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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John McCain tweets plans for next automobile purchase

Chris Shunk — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Government/Legal, Green, Ford

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you're a politician worth your own salt, you apparently have to buy a car that contains both a gasoline engine and an electric motor. Former Republican presidential candidate John McCain is finally getting on the bandwagon and picking up his own little slice of green heaven, as he's announced on his Twitter page that he's buying a Ford Fusion Hybrid.

McCain's decision to go Blue Oval for his hybrid choice is a publicity boon for the Ford Motor Company, as the Arizona Senator's 777,000 Twitter followers have no doubt taken note of the make and model of the war hero's new ride, much like then-candidate Barack Obama did when he turned in his Chrysler 300C for a Ford Escape Hybrid. With his new Fusion hybrid, McCain will be able to patrol the streets of Washington while achieving a best-in-class 41 mpg city. Now... what will Sarah Palin buy next?

Gallery: 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

[Source: Los Angeles Times Blog]

John McCain tweets plans for next automobile purchase originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Obama a BMW, McCain a Ford

John Neff — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, BMW, Ford

Being a Democrat or Republican is like being a Ford fan or Chevy supporter. While there are undecideds who might choose a Mustang or Camaro based on their spec sheets alone, most us already know where our allegiance lies and will defend our choice regardless. The analogy between your political party and pony car preference just got a little more interesting thanks to a study by Landor Associates and research firm Penn, Schoen and Berland. They issued a survey asking respondents to compare the top two political contenders with brands in the marketplace, and the results weren't shocking so much as reflective of the prevailing perceptions of each candidate.

Barack Obama, for instance, was associated with brands like Google, James Bond and Target, while John McCain was linked to AOL, Jack Bauer and Wal-Mart. When it came to auto brands, Obama was buddied up with BMW and McCain paired with Ford. We would have gone a bit more granular and pegged Obama as an M3 and McCain a Shelby GT500, as that would certainly be a race more exciting than the one we're watching now.

[Source: Adweek]

Obama a BMW, McCain a Ford originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seven houses is nothing, McCain owns 13 cars

Chris Shunk — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

A few weeks ago, the press made a big deal about the fact that John McCain had more houses than he could recall off the cuff. Newsweek has taken the next logical step towards providing the all-important TMI by finding out how many cars each candidate owns.

Barack Obama and his wife Michelle make do with just one vehicle; a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid that replaced the senator's un-PC but much cooler HEMI-powered Chrysler 300. McCain takes a more, ahem, liberal approach to vehicle ownership, with 13 cars and trucks to fill his seven garages. If we were wealthy and influential, we too would own a lot of cars. That would give us a tangible link to the Republican nominee, except for the fact that our collection of cars would be a hell of a lot cooler. McCain owns a 2004 Cadillac CTS as his daily driver, and it gets less interesting from there. Rounding out the Maverick's sizable stable is a 2005 VW convertible, a 2001 Honda sedan, a 2007 Ford pickup, a 2008 Wrangler, a 2000 Lincoln, a 2001 GMC SUV, three 2000 NEV Gem electric cars, and a vintage 1960 Willys Jeep. McCain's wife Cindy, who uses drifting as a form of therapy and sits atop a family fortune from her beer distribution company, drives a Lexus with "MS BUD" vanity plates.

Nothing in that crop of rides screams "I'm rich and powerful," but if you have seven houses, it makes sense to have at least one vehicle at each residence. What doesn't make sense is that all of those vehicles are about as exciting as sugar free tapioca pudding.

[Source: NewsWeek, Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty]

Seven houses is nothing, McCain owns 13 cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McCain backs $5000 tax break for Volt, others

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:02:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Green, GM

Presumptive Republican nominee for President, John McCain has wrapped up his tour and speaking engagement at General Motors, where the Arizona Senator discussed the U.S.'s current fuel situation and the proliferation of electric cars. Addressing the General's assembled workers, McCain said, "I would support tax credits for Americans who choose to buy the Volt and other automobiles that put us on track to energy independence." McCain later specified that the credit should be $5,000 as "an integral part of our ability to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil."

McCain has already issued his support for federal funding of research and development of battery-powered cars and made it clear that individual states should have the ability to set their own fuel economy standards.

[Source: Reuters Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty]

McCain backs $5000 tax break for Volt, others originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McCain has no plans for Detroit bailout

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 18:15:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Government/Legal, Green, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Earnings/Financials

Back in the late seventies and into early eighties, Chrysler had gotten itself into such horrid financial shape that the U.S. government decided to step in and fix the situation itself. Considering the sorry state of affairs that all three of the Detroit automakers find themselves in today, some may wonder if a government-funded bailout is in the cards. Not so much... at least according to John McCain. "Frankly I just don't see a scenario where the federal government would come in and bail out any industry in America today," says the Republican.

So, what plan does McCain have in store for the Detroit 3? More Chevrolet Cobalts and Pontiac G5s for one, as the Arizona Senator said the above words after touring the plant in Lordstown, Ohio where the GM compact cars are made and a where third shift has just been added. "I am convinced that what is being done at the Lordstown assembly plant is the future of the American auto industry," added McCain.

In more related good news for the U.S. automakers, McCain says he supports nationwide CO₂ standards and would oppose any state's individual plans -- California, we're looking at you. The Presidential hopeful also wants to see more fair-trade standards implemented with the other various auto-building nations and quicker violations for unfair practices. We await a response from the Democratic side.

[Sources: The Detroit News, Automotive News - sub. req'd]

McCain has no plans for Detroit bailout originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Jun 2008 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Obama critizes McCain's $300m battery prize

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:32:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Green

As expected, presidential hopeful John McCain outlined a plan yesterday which would offer a $300 million cash prize to the first company able to build a better automotive battery. The proposal is part of an effort to reduce the nation's petroleum usage, in this case, by furthering the development of electric cars. In what would must be the least shocking news of the day, McCain's rival for the White House, Barack Obama, isn't in favor of the Arizona Senator's plan, calling it a "gimmick" and suggesting that his plan to force automakers into a 50 mile per gallon fleet average by 2027 would be more effective.

One thing is certain: whomever wins the presidential election has plans to make drastic changes to the automotive sector with the express goal of reducing the nation's dependence on oil. What path that may take, though, remains to be seen and will likely depend on which candidate placed in office. It should be rather interesting to watch it all unfold.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Obama critizes McCain's $300m battery prize originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sen. McCain proposes $300m prize for a better battery

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Green, Technology

Petroleum prices are making electric vehicles and engines which run on biofuels look more and more attractive with each passing day. That's why its likely to be a hot topic this election season as each presidential candidate sets out his own unique proposals to ease the country into a new era of lower fuel consumption. Biofuels may be the quickest path to lower petroleum usage, but it's electric vehicles which present the biggest step forward in clean auto technology looking forward.

Both biofuels and battery technology are getting some love from Senator John McCain, who's set to propose a prize of $300 million for the first company who can build a better battery. That's a large sum of money, but it won't be easy to tap considering that the goal is for a battery with "the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars." Oh yeah, and do all that with a seventy-percent reduction in cost. That shouldn't be a problem, right?

[Source: The Detroit News]

Sen. McCain proposes $300m prize for a better battery originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Poll: Auto execs favor McCain by 70%

Noah Joseph — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal

As part of the 2008 Global Automotive Survey, the automotive division of law firm Dykema Gossett PLLC surveyed 46 leading automotive executives in America on their opinions regarding the upcoming presidential race and the forecast for the U.S. automotive industry. The picture that the respondents painted in their responses was anything but bright.

Regarding the three leading presidential candidates, 70% favored Republican Senator John McCain. However, the survey indicated that the favor was due less to McCain's record regarding the automobile industry and more in juxtaposition to those of rival Democratic candidates Senators Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama, the latter garnering the most opposition with 57% of respondents viewing an Obama administration as having a potentially negative impact on the industry. The survey also addressed the executives' attitudes towards the future of the carmaking industry in America, in which not a single respondent conveyed a positive outlook, while 87% projected a negative outlook with the remaining 13% responding neutrally.

[Source: The Detroit News, Photo by Bryan Mitchell/Getty]

Poll: Auto execs favor McCain by 70% originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Apr 2008 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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