GM prepares effort to fight state greenhouse laws
California's greenhouse gas law could slow vehicles like the Volt?GM's CEO, Rick Wagoner, is urging auto dealers to help fight against states that are trying to set individual limits on greenhouse gas emissions, which really isn't a surprise. "We need to work together to educate policymakers at the state and local levels on the importance of tough but national standards," Wagoner told the dealers group. Otherwise, GM will not, "be able to accomplish everything that we otherwise could."
While I'm sure it wouldn't be easy, why not try to educate these policymakers about how much help GM and other automakers might need to achieve these higher levels as well? Discuss dollars and cents. Discuss lost jobs. Even establish a Davos-style conference in California for such a forum, but at least have a real conversation on these issues.
Labels: global warming
posted by Dahcredyns at
7:56 AM
9 Comments:
"We need to work together to educate policymakers at the state and local levels on the importance of tough but national standards," Wagoner told the dealers group. Otherwise, GM will not, "be able to accomplish everything that we otherwise could."
Which is what Mr. Wagoner, more lies, more crap products? More Hummers?
If you made a decent product, you'd not have to worry about this at all.
I hate to say but..."I told you so"...about GM.
If large corporations like GM choose to lobby for their favor over the wishes of the public. They should be ready to deal with the logical backlash ramifications: a boycott. Why don't consumers boycott GM products as a way to tell them to stay out of the business of government? They want to control our choice? We'd like to control their market. They should be more careful of the battles they start.
Further proof of their arrogance was seeing a Hummer commercial in the middle of the National Geographic Channel's broadcast of "6 Minutes" last night. My wife and I couldn't believe it! They air an ad for an SUV synonymous with waste during a show about environmental tipping points?!
Anyone can buy 2008 Highlander Hybrid today that meets CAFE 35 MPG (unadjusted number since the 70's).
When equally equipped, it does not cost $6k or $7k compare to the non-hybrid less powerful version.
Yeah rite, the automakers would always fight tooth and nail against emission laws. What jobs are they talking about protecting, jobs which help in degrading the environment arent worth saving.
There is no doubt that GM appears as more a part of the problem, rather than part of the solution.
Still, it's hard to find an automaker that looks like a real part of the solution. Just because Honda doesn't sell a V-8 they aren't uber-green, right?
Thus, can we fully blame that reality on automakers?
While US automakers might have had a strong hand in keeping gas cheap, so to have oil companies, and NOCs, which are gaining even more power day-by-day.
Ultimately, we need solutions - a bold new energy vision, and we need that vision to be bought into by automakers, consumers and government.
This is the issue of our times, yet it's barely part of the national conversation.
A company like GM and a Hummer-driving Governor, like Arnold, could make it a part of the national conversation.
GM COULD. More realistically, GM WON'T. And that attitude/prerogative seals their fate.
Dahc,
No it's true...Honda isn't necessarily super green either. BUT...at least
1) They have working hybrids out on the market....and for a while too. What other car can realistically get the mileage an Insight gets? NONE.
2) At least Honda has come out with a WORKING, SELLABLE, DRIVEABLE hydrogen car. What other car company has come close to that? NONE.
3) At least Honda's overall fleet mileage is higher than almost all other car companies. European, US and Japanese included. What other car company can state that? NONE.
4) Honda uses strong engineering, lightweight material, innovative engine technology to develop their cars...translating into cars that are generally lighter, have smaller displacement, and generate alot of power for their engine size. What other manufacturer can say that? NONE.
I'm not blaming the US auto companies by themselves. There is no doubt whatsoever that the government, the oil firms, AND the automakers have had years and years of collusion to keep people on the addiction to oil. There is no doubt whatsoever. The wars, the chaos, the turmoil, the misery they (and we) have created is astronomical.
They have created a society that is extremely selfish, extremely self-righteous, egotistical without bounds, and ultra-narcissistic.
I agree with you that communication and dialog can help the situation but NOT when you are speaking to a bunch of crooks who have no desire whatsoever to make a change.
It is extremely clear to me that GM has no interest in helping, speeding up, or developing the progress of alternative energy vehicles. All it is doing is delaying the process as much as possible in order to keep selling the garbage it has sold us for the last 40-50 years.
GM is so far behind in technology and development compared to other manufacturer's that it is embarrassing.
As I have said before, this company does not deserve to exist because it is not a leader, innovator, or creator of an useful, meaningful technology. You can argue that the EV1 was....perhaps on a small scale. But part of being successful in something is following through.
GM has clearly shown already that it has no interest in following through. The EV1 was a good taste of that sour pill.
I grant you that other automakers were fighting CAFE changes and fleet mileage improvements...Honda and Toyota being part of it. But look at how they handled it...particularly Honda. Instead of turning around and destroying their EV's and not creating hybrids, they turned around and developed the technology with the foresight and intelligence that only GM can dream of.
I agree with you on many things Dahc...but proping up GM and waiting for their balloni to material isn't worth it.
There are far too many superior, better run, more efficient, better engineered companies and products out there. And no amount of feel good, lying commercial re-runs are going to change that.
Sadly, when you drop $38.7 billion in a year, your options are limited.
Still, I think GM is trying to create that national conversation. Unfortunately, GM has made ethanol the key feature of that conversation and I don't think ethanol, especially corn-based ethanol, is the way to lead this conversation.
If GM wants to gain inroads in the US, it needs to significantly change its American product mix, but with those kinds of losses is such a change possible?
Also, I still don't understand why GM didn't make a unique hybrid car, even a unique crossover hybrid, its hybrid priority. In the short term, nothing could have helped changed perception more than a unique hybrid, even if not an exact Prius-contender.
At some point GM has to throw away the SUV blinders. Sure, GM will keep making such vehicles for many years, but GM-critics need GM to do something non-GM-like - and it can't be just the Volt.
Noz-
I don't ever argue against your criticisms of GM because I think most of your criticisms of GM are spot-on. Although, having driven the Chevy Equinox Fuel cell vehicle a few times, I think you're a little off there.
And, Honda has been the most green automaker, although Toyota - despite its move to houses on four wheels - has increased its fleet fuel economy more than any other major automaker in recent years - that's shameful considering that no country has more reasons to become significantly more fuel efficient than America.
Still, until GM is dead and gone I'm going to hope and push for GM to become part of the solution, just as I'll hope and push for every other automaker to become part of the solution.
I'm not trying to "prop" GM up because I don't agree with GM's product offering today, but I do have some hope for its future product offering.
Yes, GM is moving far too slow today and the automaker needs to think far outside of the box immediately - and it can't just be ethanol.
Nontheless, I think GM can still be part of the solution.
Will they be part of the solution?
We won't have to worry about them much longer if they don't. America's energy consumption madness will sort this business out sooner or later. I'm just of the camp that I'd prefer to prepare for that reality now, rather than wait until we have no choice, and GM can help in that cause.
I hope they do. If they don't, f'em.
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