Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Anthony Foxx nominated by Obama to be next Transportation Secretary [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/30/anthony-foxx-nominated-by-obama-to-be-next-transportation-secret/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/30/anthony-foxx-nominated-by-obama-to-be-next-transportation-secret/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/30/anthony-foxx-nominated-by-obama-to-be-next-transportation-secret/#commentsFiled under: ,

Anthony Foxx

Anthony Foxx, labeled by President Obama as "one of the most effective mayors Charlotte [North Carolina] has ever seen," has been nominated by the President to be the next Secretary of Transportation. Foxx would take over for Ray LaHood, who announced that he would be stepping down a few months ago.

President Obama had only positive things to say about Mr. LaHood, who had previously served in Congress as a Republican, calling him "a model for the kind of bipartisan approach to governance I think we need so badly in this town." Foxx had been a Democrat, but said during the nomination speech, "There is no such thing as a Democratic or Republican road, bridge, port, airfield or rail system."

Scroll down below to see a video from CBS News highlighting Obama's announcement and Foxx's acceptance.

Continue reading Anthony Foxx nominated by Obama to be next Transportation Secretary [w/video]

Anthony Foxx nominated by Obama to be next Transportation Secretary [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Apr 2013 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anthony foxxanthony foxx secretary of transportationanthonyfoxxsecretaryoftransportationnational highway traffic safety administrationobamaobama transportation nomineeobamatransportationnomineeray lahoodtransportation secretaryTue, 30 Apr 2013 07:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20552424/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/30/anthony-foxx-nominated-by-obama-to-be-next-transportation-secret/20552424/article-detail.xml 20552424 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/anthony-foxx_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/anthony-foxx.jpg <![CDATA[Obama picks new leaders for Dept. of Energy and EPA]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/04/obama-picks-new-leaders-for-dept-of-energy-and-epa/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/04/obama-picks-new-leaders-for-dept-of-energy-and-epa/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/04/obama-picks-new-leaders-for-dept-of-energy-and-epa/#commentsFiled under:



President Barack Obama announced his nominees to lead the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy today. After speaking out about global warming in both his Inaugural Address and State of the Union speech this year, the President hopes that the new appointees will help lead the administration toward meaningful climate change policy-making.

Gina McCarthy will step from her current role as assistant EPA administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation, to replace Lisa Jackson for that agency's top spot. Meanwhile, Ernest Moniz will replace Steven Chu as Secretary of Energy in the President's Cabinet. Both nominees will require confirmation by the Senate.

Moniz most recently held a position as the Director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Energy Initiative, overseeing projects that angled to reduce greenhouse gasses. Despite this, his appointment has been met with skepticism from some environmental groups who don't like his record of partnering with big oil companies like BP, Shell and Chevron.

McCarthy has worked with both Democrats and Republicans in the past, including a stint with Obama's Presidential opponent, Mitt Romney. At the announcement, the President said of McCarthy, "Gina has focused on practical, cost-effective ways to keep our air clean and our economy growing."

Obama picks new leaders for Dept. of Energy and EPA originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barack obamadepartment of energyenergy secretaryenvironmental protection agencyepaernest monizgina mccarthyobamapresident obamathe cabinetMon, 04 Mar 2013 17:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20487775/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/04/obama-picks-new-leaders-for-dept-of-energy-and-epa/20487775/article-detail.xml 20487775 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/ombama-ernest-moniz-gina-mccarthy-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/ombama-ernest-moniz-gina-mccarthy-628.jpg <![CDATA[US Treasury signals it will sell off remaining GM shares]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/18/us-treasury-signals-it-will-sell-off-remaining-gm-shares/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/18/us-treasury-signals-it-will-sell-off-remaining-gm-shares/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/18/us-treasury-signals-it-will-sell-off-remaining-gm-shares/#commentsFiled under: , ,

GM Renaissance Center with flags

True to its word, the US Treasury Department has taken steps today to rid itself of its remaining 300-million shares of General Motors stock. The Treasury has engaged both JP Morgan and Citigroup Global Markets to handle the sale of the remaining shares, reports the Detroit Free Press.

After divesting itself of 200 million shares last month, the government agency said that it would shed its remaining investment in the automaker throughout 2013. Today, the Treasury still owns some 19 percent of GM.

When the Treasury sold stock back to GM last month, it was at a price of some $27.50 per share, or above what the issue was then trading at in the open market. More recently, GM stock has been seeing closer to $29 per share in the marketplace, offering some hope that the final "cost" to the taxpayer will be less than expected. With that said, the plan remains to sell off in segments, rather than all at once, as a way of disrupting the market as little as possible.

Obama officials are on record has having said that, even if the US Government ultimately loses money on the investment in GM stock - a virtual certainty according to the reports we've read so far - the jobs saved by the automaker bailout make this a net win for the country.

US Treasury signals it will sell off remaining GM shares originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Jan 2013 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bailoutgeneral motorsgmgm stockobamaobama administrationus governmentus treasuryFri, 18 Jan 2013 16:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20433372/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/18/us-treasury-signals-it-will-sell-off-remaining-gm-shares/20433372/article-detail.xml 20433372 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/gyi0061332043_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/gyi0061332043.jpg <![CDATA[What Obama's win could mean for the auto industry over the next 4 years]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/07/what-obamas-win-could-mean-for-the-auto-industry-over-the-next/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/07/what-obamas-win-could-mean-for-the-auto-industry-over-the-next/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/07/what-obamas-win-could-mean-for-the-auto-industry-over-the-next/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



The 2012 Presidential election is in the books and those in swing states must be looking forward to the absence of countless campaign ads. However, those with their eyes on electric vehicles and reduced emissions from automobiles may be looking forward to what the President's second term in office has in store.

So what of the future of the auto industry? Perhaps the initiative with the most immediate impact is the continued pursuit of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standard of 54.5 miles per gallon for cars by 2025. Some dealers have voiced displeasure with the added price of making these vehicles more fuel efficient. Additionally, a new challenge is ensuring those standards are actually met and automakers are reporting fuel economy numbers properly - a reality recently experienced by Kia and Hyundai. Still automakers in general approve of having clear standards to which they can refer.

The President's re-election should see the returned attention to electric vehicles as well. This year, Obama proposed an increase in the tax credit for electric vehicles, from $7,500 up to $10,000, in the pursuit of 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2015.

Another area where regulation will be pushed is in vehicle safety, where the Obama administration will seek to require all new vehicles to have a backup camera by 2014. Other regulations may be pursued in the area of navigation and advanced digital displays, and the safety impact of this rapidly progressing technology. With no reelection to concern him, Obama will likely double down on efforts to see through these initiatives in fuel economy and electric vehicles.

What Obama's win could mean for the auto industry over the next 4 years originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barack obamacafecorporate average fuel economyobamaWed, 07 Nov 2012 10:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20373005/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/07/what-obamas-win-could-mean-for-the-auto-industry-over-the-next/20373005/article-detail.xml 20373005 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/obama-victory-speech-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/obama-victory-speech-628.jpg <![CDATA[UAW calls for investigation into Romney ethics violations over possible profits from auto bailouts]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/01/uaw-calls-for-investigation-into-romney-ethics-violations-over-p/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/01/uaw-calls-for-investigation-into-romney-ethics-violations-over-p/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/01/uaw-calls-for-investigation-into-romney-ethics-violations-over-p/#commentsFiled under:



The United Autos Workers, which has endorsed President Barack Obama, announced Thursday that its members want the US Office of Government Ethics to investigate Gov. Mitt Romney for violations.

The UAW leadership held a press conference in Toledo, Ohio, Thursday, alleging that Romney profited from the 2009 automotive bailout of General Motors and Chrysler Group through an investment in a company that itself was invested in Delphi Automotive. The irony, of course, is that Romney opposed a government bailout of the auto industry.

"The American people have a right to know about Governor Romney's potential conflicts of interest, such as the profits his family made from the auto rescue," said UAW President Bob King in a press release. "It's time for Governor Romney to disclose or divest."

The UAW based its claim that the Romney family profited on an article published in The Nation magazine. That article claimed Romney's family made more than $15 million through the auto bailouts based on investments in a company invested in Delphi.

However, after carefully examining the article, as well as another article in The Huffington Post, it remains unclear exactly how that money was made. Furthermore, the original article noted that Romney's disclosures were not illegal, meaning, in fact, that they were legal.

No matter for the UAW.

"While Romney was opposing the rescue of one of the nation's most important manufacturing sectors, he was building his fortunes with his Delphi investor group, making his fortunes off the misfortunes of others," King added.

Personnel at the Office of Government Ethics could not be reached for immediate comment.

UAW calls for investigation into Romney ethics violations over possible profits from auto bailouts originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Nov 2012 16:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bob kingchryslerchrysler group llcdelphidelphi automotiveethicsethics violationgeneral motors cogmobamaRomneyUAWThu, 01 Nov 2012 16:21:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20368300/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/01/uaw-calls-for-investigation-into-romney-ethics-violations-over-p/20368300/article-detail.xml 20368300 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/romney628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/romney628.jpg <![CDATA[Obama calls for trade case against China]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/18/obama-calls-for-trade-case-against-china/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/18/obama-calls-for-trade-case-against-china/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/18/obama-calls-for-trade-case-against-china/#commentsFiled under: , ,



According to an Automotive News report, the U.S. government has launched a trade case that focuses on ending Chinese subsidies of its automotive industry, which threaten American auto industry jobs.

The case claims that the Chinese government has subsidized its automotive export industry in a way that is not allowed under World Trade Organization rules. The U.S. Trade Representative's office is also pushing ahead in a separate WTO case against Chinese duties on exports from the U.S. to China.

As a result of the move, China filed a complaint with the WTO against a new U.S. law aimed at combating China's subsidies. The move is called "Countervailing duties" and includes tariffs on tires and steel.

The launching of this case comes at a time when President Obama is looking for an edge in key battleground states like Ohio, where jobs are put at risk by China's subsidies. The case allows Obama to take a strong stance one the issue; presidential challenger Mitt Romney has criticized the White House for being too soft with China as it regards defending American jobs.

The Ohio auto parts industry directly employs over 50,000 people, and China's undervaluation of its yuan currency has made for cheap Chinese products, which undercut U.S. products. Romney has vowed to declare China a currency manipulator on his first day in office, while current administration officials say much progress has been made without turning up tensions.

Due to WTO rules, China's counter-claim has enacted a 60-day period, in which the U.S. and China can talk things out. After that periods is up, China could ask the WTO to make a ruling on the matter.

Obama calls for trade case against China originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automotive newsautomotive subsidieschinaobamaohioromneysubsidiesworld trade organizationwtoTue, 18 Sep 2012 18:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20325153/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/09/18/obama-calls-for-trade-case-against-china/20325153/article-detail.xml 20325153 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/president-barack-obama-with-flag-1347998402_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/president-barack-obama-with-flag-1347998402.jpg <![CDATA[New CAFE rules officially finalized; 54.5 mpg is like making gas $1/gallon cheaper]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/29/new-cafe-rules-officially-finalized-54-5-mpg-is-like-making-gas/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/29/new-cafe-rules-officially-finalized-54-5-mpg-is-like-making-gas/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/29/new-cafe-rules-officially-finalized-54-5-mpg-is-like-making-gas/#commentsFiled under:

Sixties Ford model being refueled

Increasing the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards for model year 2017-2025 cars to 54.5 miles per gallon was first proposed in July 2011. Since then, there has been a lot of back and forth, a lot of positive and negative responses, and, lately, a delay for unknown reasons. Since the CAFE rules were not changed between the mid-1980s and when President Obama came into office and rules for 2012-2016 model year vehicles were put in place in 2010, it's not a huge surprise this update took so long. That's all over now.

Department of Transportation secretary Ray LaHood and Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson announced the official finalization of new federal fuel efficiency standards in a Tuesday conference call. Some headline numbers from the call:
  • The reduced fuel use will save American families over $1.7 trillion dollars in fuel costs.
  • Vehicles on American roads will use two million barrels of oil less per day by 2025, "as much as half of the oil we import from OPEC each day."
  • More efficient cars will be more expensive, but LaHood said that the buyers can expect average fuel savings of $8,000 per vehicle (over the life of the vehicle) for a 2025 model year car compared to a similar vehicle from 2010, using today's prices. That's equivalent to gas being a dollar a gallon cheaper.
  • You like lower emissions? The new standards will "reduc[e] emissions by 6 billion metric tons over the life of the program - more than the total amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the United States in 2010."
We've heard a lot of those numbers before, but there were some items in the press release (not addressed on the call) that caught our eye. Specifically:

The program also includes targeted incentives to encourage early adoption and introduction into the marketplace of advanced technologies to dramatically improve vehicle performance, including:
Incentives for electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and fuel cells vehicles;
Incentives for hybrid technologies for large pickups and for other technologies that achieve high fuel economy levels on large pickups;
Incentives for natural gas vehicles;
Credits for technologies with potential to achieve real-world greenhouse gas reductions and fuel economy improvements that are not captured by the standards test procedures.

We don't know how these incentives stack (or don't) with current incentives or if they're just the ones already in place, but we've put in a call to the EPA to find out. We'll let you know when we hear back. A sample of early responses to the official rules - all positive, so far - is available below.

Continue reading New CAFE rules officially finalized; 54.5 mpg is like making gas $1/gallon cheaper

New CAFE rules officially finalized; 54.5 mpg is like making gas $1/gallon cheaper originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cafecafe standardscorporate average fuel economyepafuel economylisa jacksonmiles per gallonmpgobamaray lahoodWed, 29 Aug 2012 13:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20311901/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/29/new-cafe-rules-officially-finalized-54-5-mpg-is-like-making-gas/20311901/article-detail.xml 20311901 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/refueling-old-ford_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/refueling-old-ford.jpg <![CDATA[CAFE standards upheld by U.S. appeals court]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/27/cafe-standards-upheld-by-u-s-appeals-court/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/27/cafe-standards-upheld-by-u-s-appeals-court/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/27/cafe-standards-upheld-by-u-s-appeals-court/#commentsFiled under: ,

Car2Go Smart For Two in front of Capitol

No dice, partner.

Federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for 2012-16 were upheld this week by a U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., quashing efforts by certain industries and a number of states to overturn the mandate, The Detroit News reports.

The standards, which have been backed by the Obama Administration, require fleetwide fuel economy to reach 34.1 miles per gallon by 2016. The mandate, made in part to address evidence of global warming from greenhouse gas emissions, has been backed by most major automakers, including Ford, General Motors and Chrysler.

The Obama Administration is expected later this year to settle on CAFE standards proposed last year for 2025. That mandate requires a 54.5-miles-per-gallon CAFE standard, which equals about 40 miles per gallon in real-world terms.

Fleetwide new-car averages neared all-time highs of about 23 miles per gallon earlier this year, though they have fallen slightly during the past couple of months as gas prices have dropped.

CAFE standards upheld by U.S. appeals court originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appeals courtcafecorporate average fuel economyfuel economyfuel standardsgas mileageobamatexasWed, 27 Jun 2012 15:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20266824/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/27/cafe-standards-upheld-by-u-s-appeals-court/20266824/article-detail.xml 20266824 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/car2godc_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/car2godc.jpg <![CDATA[Lutz stumps for Romney despite opposition to auto bailout]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/15/lutz-stumps-for-romney-despite-opposition-to-auto-bailout/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/15/lutz-stumps-for-romney-despite-opposition-to-auto-bailout/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/15/lutz-stumps-for-romney-despite-opposition-to-auto-bailout/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Bob Lutz in front of reporters

Bob Lutz has put Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's numerous past comments about the automotive bailout behind him, according to Automotive News. During a recent episode of "The Kudlow Report" on CNBC, the former auto executive made it clear he now backs Romney for the 2012 presidential election, saying "[Romney] now says he was totally in favor of [the bailout] and suggested it."

In 2008, Romney wrote an op-ed for The New York Times titled, "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt." The piece adamantly opposed the government bailout in favor of a managed bankruptcy for both General Motors and Chyrsler. He has maintained his opposition to the auto bailouts publicly along the campaign trail, and Lutz's comment is the first news we've heard of the candidate's apparent change of heart. As recently as February 18, Lutz himself criticized the presidential candidate for his stance, especially for suggesting that the automakers simply needed to borrow from banks. According to Lutz, the banks were in worse shape than either of the imperiled manufacturers.

But that was then. Lutz now says he forgives Romney for his earlier statements, and that his support has more to do with opposing President Barack Obama than it does any actual faith in Romney's policies. Lutz said, "You know, all is forgiven. It depends on who [Romney's] opponent is."

While speaking with The Detroit News recently, Romney said that if elected, he would quickly sell the U.S. Treasury's stake in GM. He's also criticized the Obama Administration's proposed fuel economy requirements and support of electric vehicle manufacturing and development. Having helped usher the Chevrolet Volt to market, Lutz is a major proponent of electric vehicles.

Lutz stumps for Romney despite opposition to auto bailout originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 presidential electionautomotive bailoutbailoutbarack obamabob lutzbob lutz supports romneyelectionlutzmitt romneyobamaFri, 15 Jun 2012 09:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20259290/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/15/lutz-stumps-for-romney-despite-opposition-to-auto-bailout/20259290/article-detail.xml 20259290 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/bob-lutz-with-reporters_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/bob-lutz-with-reporters.jpg <![CDATA[Saab union asks Obama to pressure GM for licensing deal]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/saab-union-asks-obama-to-pressure-gm-for-licensing-deal/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/saab-union-asks-obama-to-pressure-gm-for-licensing-deal/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/saab-union-asks-obama-to-pressure-gm-for-licensing-deal/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

President Obama

The door has not yet closed on Saab. Hoping for yet another 11th hour stay of execution, the defunct carmaker's chief union, IF Metall, has written directly to President Obama, asking him to intervene, according to Just-Auto. While on the surface, this may seem silly, it's actually rather clever, even if it has little likelihood of working.

With the United States government still owning 26 percent of General Motors, the Swedish union is hoping it can appeal to Obama to pressure General Motors into granting licenses to continue manufacturing Saab vehicles, according to the report. It's this sticking point that has torpedoed every attempt to forestall Saab's dissolution, as GM fears that were it to allow continued production of Saabs developed under GM's ownership, it would open up the possibility of intellectual property conflicts, particularly if a Chinese manufacturer that competes with GM's own Chinese partner, SAIC, acquires Saab.

You have to admire Saab loyalists, as they clearly have not given up hope. But in this case, they just don't have any other options: Unemployment in the Saab hometown of Trollhättan has hit 40 percent, according to the report.

Saab union asks Obama to pressure GM for licensing deal originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 May 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barack obamachinachinese automakersgeneral motorsgmif metallintellectual propertyobamapresident of the united statessaabsaictrollhattentrollhättanunionsTue, 15 May 2012 16:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20238573/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/15/saab-union-asks-obama-to-pressure-gm-for-licensing-deal/20238573/article-detail.xml 20238573 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/president-obama-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/president-obama-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Obama's latest campaign ads highlight auto recovery]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/11/obamas-latest-campaign-ads-highlight-auto-recovery/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/11/obamas-latest-campaign-ads-highlight-auto-recovery/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/11/obamas-latest-campaign-ads-highlight-auto-recovery/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Barack Obama ad

As expected, the so-called auto bailout of 2009 has become a major talking point in the run-up to the 2012 Presidential Election. Somewhat surprisingly, however, both sides of the aisle are taking credit for the success seen by General Motors and Chrysler since the two automakers were pushed through a structured bankruptcy process.

Presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney has said he deserves "a lot of credit" for the resuscitation of the auto industry due to his suggestion of a managed bankruptcy of the two automakers. President Obama, on the other hand, points out that Romney was very vocal in his opposition to the auto bailout, frequently citing the editorial he wrote for the New York Times in 2009 titled "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt," in which he said the auto industry was "virtually guaranteed" to fail if Obama's bailout proceeded.

Building on previous advertisements highlighting the auto bailout of 2009, the Obama campaign has released two new videos touting the success of the automakers since the dark days of bankruptcy. Scroll down below to watch the videos for yourself.

Continue reading Obama's latest campaign ads highlight auto recovery

Obama's latest campaign ads highlight auto recovery originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 May 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 presidential electionauto bailoutBarack Obamamitt romneyobamaobama adobama campaignromneyromney campaignFri, 11 May 2012 15:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20236426/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/11/obamas-latest-campaign-ads-highlight-auto-recovery/20236426/article-detail.xml 20236426 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/barack-obama-ad_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/barack-obama-ad.jpg <![CDATA[White House annouces $4.7B effort for advanced-technology vehicles, including EV Everywhere]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/07/white-house-annouces-4-7b-effort-for-advanced-technology-vehicl/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/07/white-house-annouces-4-7b-effort-for-advanced-technology-vehicl/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/07/white-house-annouces-4-7b-effort-for-advanced-technology-vehicl/#commentsFiled under: ,



It's a big week for compressed natural gas vehicles, thanks to President Obama's announcement today that his administration wants to increase federal support for CNG automobiles by introducing a tax credit similar to the one in place for plug-in vehicles. Plug-in vehicles, too, could get a big boost - and a double-whammy at that - with the current tax credit exchanged for a point-of-sale rebate and an increase in the maximum value from $7,500 to $10,000. The President made the announcement today at a Daimler Trucks North America plant in North Carolina.

The White House is proposing spending $3.7 billion on the the tax credits and another $1 billion that would go directly to 10 or 15 communities through a "Race to the Top" challenge that
will allow the local governments "to invest in the necessary infrastructure, remove the regulatory barriers, and create the local incentives to support deployment of advanced vehicles at critical mass." This challenge is "fuel neutral" and thus allows "communities to determine if electrification, natural gas, or other alternative fuels would be the best fit."

The White House also announced a new "EV Everywhere" plan, which it described as, "a clean energy grand challenge to make electric-powered vehicles as affordable and convenient as gasoline-powered vehicles for the average American family within a decade." The White House says driving electric will save the average driver $100 a month, which will be much more valuable when the upfront cost of an EV drops and more people can afford one. To this end, EV Everywhere "will invest in breakthrough R&D for advanced batteries, electric drivetrain technologies, lightweight vehicle structures, and fast charging technology."

As the President said in North Carolina today:

Here is the truth. If we are going to control our energy future, then we've got to have an all-of-the-above strategy. We've got to develop every source of American energy - not just oil and gas, but wind power and solar power, nuclear power, biofuels. We need to invest in the technology that will help us use less oil in our cars and our trucks, in our buildings, in our factories. That's the only solution to the challenge. Because as we start using less, that lowers the demand, prices come down. It's pretty straightforward. That's the only solution to this challenge.

The details of the plan are available below.

Continue reading White House annouces $4.7B effort for advanced-technology vehicles, including EV Everywhere

White House annouces $4.7B effort for advanced-technology vehicles, including EV Everywhere originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cngcompressed natural gasdoeelectric vehicleev everywhereobamaplug-in hybridwhite houseWed, 07 Mar 2012 18:18:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20188416/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/07/white-house-annouces-4-7b-effort-for-advanced-technology-vehicl/20188416/article-detail.xml 20188416 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/obama-daimler-plant_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/obama-daimler-plant.jpg <![CDATA[Ed Welburn finds a fan in President Obama]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/27/ed-welburn-finds-a-fan-in-president-obama/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/27/ed-welburn-finds-a-fan-in-president-obama/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/27/ed-welburn-finds-a-fan-in-president-obama/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



You know your job is going well when the President of the United States takes the time to mention your success. That's what happened to Ed Welburn, vice president of global design for General Motors, who was tasked with giving President Obama a tour of GM's latest offerings last month during the Washington Auto Show.

As they sat together in the front seats of a 2013 Chevy Malibu, Obama, among other matters, delivered a short assessment of all that transpired in the auto industry since the federal government bailed it out three years ago. And as they ended their tour, Obama mentioned that "the design of GM cars has gotten so much better in the past few years."

More than any person, Welburn is responsible for that improvement. Today, our sister site AOL Autos profiles the 40-year General Motors employee for a feature celebrating Black History Month. The profile focuses on his early fascination with the automotive industry, his role in helping it withstand its recent tumult and his status as the highest-ranking African American in the domestic auto market.

As for Obama's other thoughts on the rest of GM's offerings? Among the seven company models in D.C., Welburn reports the president was captivated by one in particular.

"He immediately wanted to get in the Corvette," he said.

Ed Welburn finds a fan in President Obama originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barack obamaed welburngeneral motorsgmobamapotuspresidentpresident obamawashington auto showMon, 27 Feb 2012 17:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20180923/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/27/ed-welburn-finds-a-fan-in-president-obama/20180923/article-detail.xml 20180923 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/508558468-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/508558468-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Obama reelection campaign launches auto bailout commercial]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/24/obama-reelection-campaign-launches-auto-bailout-commercial/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/24/obama-reelection-campaign-launches-auto-bailout-commercial/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/24/obama-reelection-campaign-launches-auto-bailout-commercial/#commentsFiled under: , ,

obama bailout ad

The 2008 economic collapse in the U.S. led to what many experts call the worst recession since the Great Depression. Among the many casualties of the recession was the U.S. auto industry, which (arguably) was saved thanks to $25 billion in cash from the Bush Administration in 2008 and another $60 billion from the Obama Administration in 2009.

The Detroit News reports that 51 percent of Americans opposed the bailouts, with more Republicans being against the moves than Democrats. We're guessing far more Michigan residents were in favor of government intervention than the U.S. at large, and the Obama Administration is looking to capitalize on the move with a pro-bailout commercial.

The ad, which can be viewed after the jump, will run in Michigan throughout the weekend. The ad is hitting the airwaves as Michigan voters prepare to vote in the state's Republican primary. Every serious Republican candidate is on the record as opposing the bailout.

Continue reading Obama reelection campaign launches auto bailout commercial

Obama reelection campaign launches auto bailout commercial originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto bailoutauto industryelectiongingrichobamaprimaryreelectionreelection campaignromneysantorumFri, 24 Feb 2012 16:55:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20178500/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/24/obama-reelection-campaign-launches-auto-bailout-commercial/20178500/article-detail.xml 20178500 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/obama-ad_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/obama-ad.jpg <![CDATA[Obama's proposed budget calls for upping plug-in vehicle tax credit to $10,000]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/15/obamas-new-energy-policy-calls-for-upping-plug-in-vehicle-tax-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/15/obamas-new-energy-policy-calls-for-upping-plug-in-vehicle-tax-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/15/obamas-new-energy-policy-calls-for-upping-plug-in-vehicle-tax-c/#commentsFiled under: , ,



As a candidate, Barack Obama promised to try and get a million plug-in vehicles on U.S. roads by 2015. In his State of the Union address in 2011, he repeated that number and proposed turning the $7,500 tax credit into a point-of-purchase rebate. That hasn't yet happened, but in the President's proposed budget that was released this week, Obama took another stab at promoting plug-ins: upping the maximum credit to $10,000.

To go along with pushing PHEVs, the budget calls for cutting more subsidies that Big Oil currently enjoys. Of course, the President's political opponents quickly called the proposal nothing more than a "campaign document" that would divide America. Others are proposing that the PHEV tax credit be eliminated entirely.

Getting to a million plug-ins in four years will be tough. Last year, the top two plug-ins, the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf, sold just 17,345 units, combined. Add in sales of the Tesla Roadster and the new Mitsubishi i, and that leaves 980,000 or so to go. Do you think an extra $2,500 off the price of the car - plus more models to choose from - will do the trick?

Obama's proposed budget calls for upping plug-in vehicle tax credit to $10,000 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehicleenergy policyobamaphevplug-inplug-in hybridtax creditWed, 15 Feb 2012 15:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20172640/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/15/obamas-new-energy-policy-calls-for-upping-plug-in-vehicle-tax-c/20172640/article-detail.xml 20172640 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/obama.7b6af5587fce43618f1980e9e96e8440-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/obama.7b6af5587fce43618f1980e9e96e8440-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Chrysler, Clint Eastwood respond to criticism that Super Bowl ad was political]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/07/chrysler-clint-eastwood-respond-to-criticism-that-super-bowl-ad/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/07/chrysler-clint-eastwood-respond-to-criticism-that-super-bowl-ad/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/07/chrysler-clint-eastwood-respond-to-criticism-that-super-bowl-ad/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Chrysler has found itself in a bit of tangle with the company's Super Bowl ad featuring Clint Eastwood. In it, Eastwood speaks to viewers about "Halftime in America," specifically referring to Chrysler's recovery while drawing parallels with Detroit's own resurrection.

If Chrysler were hoping to put its weight behind a second term for President Obama, it chose an odd spokesperson in Eastwood.

Republicans like Karl Rove have come out in opposition of the ad, saying the spot was overtly political. It doesn't take massive leaps to see a potential correlation between the tagline "Halftime in America," itself a play on Ronald Reagan's famous "It's morning in America" line, and the current election season. Yet, in a radio interview yesterday, Chrysler Chairman and CEO Sergio Marchionne denied the advertisement was meant to do anything but stoke positive feelings toward the car company.

If Chrysler were hoping to put its weight behind a second term for President Obama, it chose an odd spokesperson in Eastwood. The actor has publicly spoken out against the auto bailouts in the past and even served as the Republican mayor of Carmel, California in the '80s. Hardly seems like the guy for pro-Obama flag waiving. A representative from Eastwood's production company told the Detroit Free Press, "The ad is not intended to have a political message, but rather one of American pride and job growth."

As if stepping into the pre-election mess weren't bad enough for Chrysler, the automaker also found itself in the midst of a copyright spat with NFL over the ad that saw the video yanked from YouTube just as it could have drawn the most traffic. The video later appeared on a separate channel. Follow the jump to watch the spot one more time.

Continue reading Chrysler, Clint Eastwood respond to criticism that Super Bowl ad was political

Chrysler, Clint Eastwood respond to criticism that Super Bowl ad was political originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barack obamachryslerchrysler super bowl adclint eastwoodclint eastwood super bowl adhalftime in americakarl roveobamapresident barack obamasuper bowlsuper bowl adsuper bowl adssuper bowl commercialsTue, 07 Feb 2012 11:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20166020/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/07/chrysler-clint-eastwood-respond-to-criticism-that-super-bowl-ad/20166020/article-detail.xml 20166020 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/itshalftimeinamerica02-opt2_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/itshalftimeinamerica02-opt2.jpg <![CDATA[Foreign auto companies irked by Obama snub at DC Auto Show]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/03/foreign-auto-companies-irked-by-obama-snub-at-dc-auto-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/03/foreign-auto-companies-irked-by-obama-snub-at-dc-auto-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/03/foreign-auto-companies-irked-by-obama-snub-at-dc-auto-show/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

President Barack Obama checks out the new Dodge Dart

On Tuesday, President Barack Obama visited the Washington Auto Show, and he even had time to get a closer look at a few vehicles. We're guessing that the carmakers were more than happy to set aside some time to talk to the Commander In Chief, but not every automaker got the chance.

Bloomberg says that the Association of Global Automakers is upset because the president only spent time with the Detroit Three, even though other automakers reportedly flew in executives from around the world for the occasion. The executives were reportedly on hand and waiting in a "bullpen" in the event President Obama had any questions about specific vehicles, but The Pres stuck to American cars like the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Chevrolet Silverado.

AGA CEO Michael Stanton voiced his disappointment about the perceived slight, adding that many members "bent over backwards to meet the request from the White House." Stanton also points out that AGA members have invested $43 billion in the U.S. and employ over 80,000 workers here.

Foreign auto companies irked by Obama snub at DC Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>association of global automakersbarack obamachryslerdc auto showfordgmmichael stantonobamapresidentwashington auto showFri, 03 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20163516/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/03/foreign-auto-companies-irked-by-obama-snub-at-dc-auto-show/20163516/article-detail.xml 20163516 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/obama-with-dodge-dart_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/obama-with-dodge-dart.jpg <![CDATA[GM stock price leads to greater estimate of losses on bailouts]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/01/gm-stock-price-leads-to-greater-estimate-of-losses-on-bailouts/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/01/gm-stock-price-leads-to-greater-estimate-of-losses-on-bailouts/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/01/gm-stock-price-leads-to-greater-estimate-of-losses-on-bailouts/#commentsFiled under: , ,

GM headquarters

The "Government Motors" crowd isn't going to be happy about this: The Detroit News is reporting that the U.S. Treasury now says it has lost an extra $170 million in the auto industry bailout. The culprit? The declining price of General Motors stock.

According to the report, GM's stock crested at $37.23, but is down 35 percent from that level today. The Treasury Department based its calculations on a $21.29 value from November 30, 2011. The government's share of GM was initially 61 percent, but has been reduced to 26.5 percent. The News says that the lower stock price has kept the government from selling its remaining 500 million shares.

While political opponents of the Obama administration will no doubt jump all over this report, the final cost of the bailout is still looking like it will be far less than originally thought. According to the report, the $44 billion estimate was reduced to $30 billion in December 2009, and this most recent estimate puts the total sum at $23.77 billion.

Matthew Anderson, a Treasury spokesman, was quoted as saying: "The auto industry rescue helped save one million jobs and is still projected to cost dramatically less than many had expected during the crisis."

GM stock price leads to greater estimate of losses on bailouts originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto industry bailoutbailoutgeneral motorsgmgovernment motorsobamaobama administrationstock priceus treasuryWed, 01 Feb 2012 09:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20161006/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/01/gm-stock-price-leads-to-greater-estimate-of-losses-on-bailouts/20161006/article-detail.xml 20161006 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/gmrexterior02-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/gmrexterior02-opt.jpg <![CDATA[eBay Find of the Day: Barack Obama's 2005 Chrysler 300C [UPDATE]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/25/ebay-find-of-the-day-barack-obamas-2005-chrysler-300c/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/25/ebay-find-of-the-day-barack-obamas-2005-chrysler-300c/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/25/ebay-find-of-the-day-barack-obamas-2005-chrysler-300c/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Barack Obama's Chrysler 300C

UPDATE: Not surprisingly, President Obama's former daily driver failed to sell on eBay Motors with a starting bid of $1 million. The owner reportedly wants to list the car again closer to the presidential election this fall, and may lower the price as well as give some of the proceeds to charity.

History has yet to voice its opinion on the legacy of President Barack Obama, but one enterprising eBay seller is already looking to cash in on one very big piece of Obama memorabilia. A 2005 Chrysler 300C that allegedly belonged to the Commander In Chief (back when he was an Illinois senator) has hit eBay Motors.

As you may recall, Obama sent the big V8 sedan packing in favor of a Ford Escape Hybrid when he began his campaign for the presidency. The 300C currently has 20,800 miles. Obama is said to have put 19,000 of those on the clock himself between 2004 and 2007. With so few miles and a healthy 5.7-liter V8 under the hood, this is likely the nicest 300C you'll ever lay eyes on, but the buyer wants a pretty penny for the machine.

Right now, the vehicle has a starting bid of $1 million. Not surprisingly, even though the seller says he's got the paperwork to prove the vehicle's provenance, no one has stepped up with the coin. As of the time of writing, the auction has less than a day left on the clock. Head over to eBay Motors to have a look at the auction for yourself.

eBay Find of the Day: Barack Obama's 2005 Chrysler 300C [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2005 chrysler 300c300300cchryslerchrysler 300chrysler 300cebay motorsobamaobama 300cobama chryslerobama chrysler 300cpresident barack obamaWed, 25 Jan 2012 11:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20156258/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/25/ebay-find-of-the-day-barack-obamas-2005-chrysler-300c/20156258/article-detail.xml 20156258 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/barack-obama-300c-1_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/barack-obama-300c-1.jpg <![CDATA[Memo says Bush administration almost pushed GM and Chrysler into earlier bankruptcy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/24/memo-says-bush-administration-almost-pushed-gm-and-chrysler-into/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/24/memo-says-bush-administration-almost-pushed-gm-and-chrysler-into/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/24/memo-says-bush-administration-almost-pushed-gm-and-chrysler-into/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

George Bush with Bob Nardelli of Chrysler

2008 was one crazy, almost surreal year. It was the year when the economy took a nosedive, and the U.S. auto industry nearly ceased to exist. One of the last major decisions former President Bush made before he left office was to give Chrysler and General Motors a combined $17.4 billion to keep their doors open.

That money held over the two automakers for a few months, but The Detroit News reports that the Bush administration almost took a different tack. The New Yorker published a 57-page economic memo that was written by economist Larry Summers to President Elect Obama. The memo claims that President Bush was noodling an earlier bankruptcy for the automakers, backed by up to $100 billion in government financing.

By instead forwarding GM and Chrysler a bridge loan, Bush (pictured here with former Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli) effectively prolonged the inevitable and pushed the tough decision on to the next administration. But that could have been the best possible action to take - Summers was reportedly of the opinion that pushing the automakers through bankruptcy too early could have severely damaged the entire U.S. auto industry - not just at Chrysler and GM.

In the end, Chrysler entered bankruptcy in April, followed by GM in June. Chrysler no longer owes the federal government any money, though Uncle Sam still owns 26.5 percent of The General. As a result of the Bush administration's choices, the Obama administration is the one that gets the blame and credit (depending on your political viewpoint) for shepherding the two automakers through bankruptcy.

Memo says Bush administration almost pushed GM and Chrysler into earlier bankruptcy originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto bailoutbailoutbankruptcybushchryslerchrysler bankruptcygeneral motorsgeorge bushgmgm bankruptcylarry summersobamaTue, 24 Jan 2012 10:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20155012/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/24/memo-says-bush-administration-almost-pushed-gm-and-chrysler-into/20155012/article-detail.xml 20155012 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/george-bush-with-bob-nardelli-of-chrysler_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/george-bush-with-bob-nardelli-of-chrysler.jpg -1 2