Taxpayers in the Driver’s Seat
Corporate America’s favorite new bank, the US Treasury, has some extra loan applications to process. It seems that now American Automakers need a few billion to get them through the holidays. At least taxpayers will have something to drive away with if these companies go belly up.
New Cars
Large pickup trucks are handy for towing boats and hauling supplies. Sport Utility Vehicles will easily transport three to six passengers in comfort. But stand by the side of any freeway near a US city and you’ll see that most cars are hauling nothing and carrying no passengers.
The vast majority of commuters still drive back and forth to work alone. They need fuel efficient vehicles like the ones Toyota, Honda and Volkswagen have been marketing aggressively for decades in North America.
General Motors has already seen the light. The Chevy Volt is a plug in electric vehicle with a gas engine that recharges the battery. It will compete directly with the highly successful Toyota Prius and other high mileage hybrids.
Continued production of fuel efficient vehicles should be a requirement of any government loans to American car companies. It will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, minimize pollution and help prevent global warming. Lighter vehicles mean less of a pounding on our road surfaces as well.
New Markets
GM, Ford and Chrysler also need to start cranking out more cars with steering wheels on the right. There’s no reason to continue ignoring drivers all across Europe and Asia who prefer this configuration. Competing successfully in foreign markets will help American car makers weather downturns in the US economy.
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