Despite Hybrid Escape, Ford Hammered by Environmentalists
"Ford's marketing talks about the greening of the Blue Oval," he said. "It's highly disingenuous if not outright false. Ford's advertising is outrageously misleading because it paints the company as an environmental leader when, in fact, it's exactly the opposite." (From DetroitNews)
Ford continues to receive the lion's share of criticism from environmentalists, or at least American environmentalists, because it's the most identifiable American automotive brand.
While none of the world's largest automakers deserve significant kudos for their environmental efforts, Ford has not only slyly reneged on publicly made pollution mandates, but continues to be a pollution leader.
Just a few months ago, Ford brought "the world's first hybrid SUV to market".
Big deal. How many did they bring to market, .000001%? I don't think 20,000 Ford Escape hybrids is even 1% of Ford SUV sales.
Moreover, only extreme environmentalists with money can afford one.
The Toyota Prius base sticker price is $19,000. Granted you won't be able to buy one for that price anytime soon due to demand, but at least the technology is within reach of a large majority of Americans.
Still, Toyota only thinks 10% of the U.S. market will purchase hybrid vehicles in 2015, according to recent statements by Toyota executives. So, Toyota isn't exactly planning to flood the market with hybrids either.
Honda is about the only company that has really been an environmental leader, or least Honda is as close to an environmental leader as possible for an automaker.
Still, even with the release of the Accord hybrid, Honda's third hybrid car, the company is only planning to produce twice as many hybrids as Ford in 2005.
So, yes it might be unfair to attack Ford for the massive pollution problems created by the entire auto industry, but it is entirely unfair for Ford not to do something to protect not just America's environment, but America's people.
Over the last several decades, Ford reaped massive profits and benefits while emitting massive pollutants into our skies. While profits might be down today, mostly caused by gross corporate mismanagement, Ford has a responsibility - with the preponderance of evidence of pollution and global warming - to take environmental action.
Making public statements, then reneging on them, while marketing yourself as an environmental leader when facts prove the opposite, isn't just misleading, it's as conning as the worst car salesperson.
The Ford Escape hybrid is a nice gesture by Ford, but only a gesture.
Ford continues to receive the lion's share of criticism from environmentalists, or at least American environmentalists, because it's the most identifiable American automotive brand.
While none of the world's largest automakers deserve significant kudos for their environmental efforts, Ford has not only slyly reneged on publicly made pollution mandates, but continues to be a pollution leader.
Just a few months ago, Ford brought "the world's first hybrid SUV to market".
Big deal. How many did they bring to market, .000001%? I don't think 20,000 Ford Escape hybrids is even 1% of Ford SUV sales.
Moreover, only extreme environmentalists with money can afford one.
The Toyota Prius base sticker price is $19,000. Granted you won't be able to buy one for that price anytime soon due to demand, but at least the technology is within reach of a large majority of Americans.
Still, Toyota only thinks 10% of the U.S. market will purchase hybrid vehicles in 2015, according to recent statements by Toyota executives. So, Toyota isn't exactly planning to flood the market with hybrids either.
Honda is about the only company that has really been an environmental leader, or least Honda is as close to an environmental leader as possible for an automaker.
Still, even with the release of the Accord hybrid, Honda's third hybrid car, the company is only planning to produce twice as many hybrids as Ford in 2005.
So, yes it might be unfair to attack Ford for the massive pollution problems created by the entire auto industry, but it is entirely unfair for Ford not to do something to protect not just America's environment, but America's people.
Over the last several decades, Ford reaped massive profits and benefits while emitting massive pollutants into our skies. While profits might be down today, mostly caused by gross corporate mismanagement, Ford has a responsibility - with the preponderance of evidence of pollution and global warming - to take environmental action.
Making public statements, then reneging on them, while marketing yourself as an environmental leader when facts prove the opposite, isn't just misleading, it's as conning as the worst car salesperson.
The Ford Escape hybrid is a nice gesture by Ford, but only a gesture.
Labels: Accord hybrid, Escape hybrid, Ford, Ford Escape hybrid, global warming, Honda, Hybrid Vehicles, prius, toyota
posted by Dahcredyns at
10:53 AM
1 Comments:
More people should learn about electric vehicles as a solution. "Zero emissions" is something that's going to be required by law one day (you know it will). Making the decision to go electric is far cheaper anyway, like 10 cents on the dollar vs. gas. (source: zapworld.com)
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