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If you hadn't noticed yet, Tweedle-dee, Tweedle-dumb and Tweedle-how-stupid-are-you-to-take-a-fleet-of-jets and their scary Op-Eds haven't done anything to Save GM or either of the other not-so-Big Three. The Senate is not pleased with their behavior. But here comes Mitt Romney, "favorite son" of Michigan. The guy who took tons of auto-exec money and said this before the Michigan primary: More »
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Barack Obama took time away from talking about his mother-in-law and a college football playoff system to talk about the automaker bailout in an interview on CBS' 60 Minutes. While admitting Detroit needs help, he said it's important to make sure it's conditioned on the stakeholders (labor, suppliers, execs) coming up with a plan for a sustainable domestic auto industry as opposed to just giving out "a bridge loan to nowhere." Oh, yes, he went there. This was taped before the scary GM video, which at the very least we're hoping, convinced him to buy a Save GM t-shirt. More »
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Barack Obama used part of last night's debate to tee off on aiding the domestic auto industry. Obama took nearly a full minute talking about the automaker bailout and the need for more efficient cars, and the democratic presidential candidate made a reference to "retooling" plants in the heartland. Of course, he's talking about three important swing states: Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. Good thing the car companies aren't based in California. More »
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After a nasty summer of sliding sales and eroding market share, domestic automakers are planning to lobby the US Congress for $50 billion in low-interest government loans. The companies claim the money would allow them to modernize plants and develop new fuel-efficient vehicles; ordinarily, automakers would have tapped existing lines of credit for the required cash, but rising interest rates combined with debt ratings reduced to junk status have rendered their options severely limited. But, the important thing to note here is that this is NOT a bailout. No sir. More »
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Having just finished up the major auto shows, it's probably not a bad time to ask if America's auto industry is headed in the right direction. As auto enthusiasts we like the idea of ass-kicking, high-output RWD rides like the 2009 Dodge Challenger, 2010 Camaro and Pontiac G8 GXP as much, if not more, than the next guy. But will they sell? A weakening economy, higher gas prices and a general perception that it's cool to be green sort of runs counter to the aims of all these vehicles. More »
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