Read Tom Friedman's piece (behind "Select" firewall) in today's New York Times and you'll see his ongoing discussion of why General Motors is now getting their clocks cleaned. GM responds with lame attempt to counter Friedman's points with a "just the facts" page. But the truth is, they and all the American car companies could have seen where the world was headed just a few short years ago and prepared for the high gas prices we face now. They could have done this by doing what Toyota had done: Innovate for a world when hybrids and other fuel efficient choices were needed. Just the facts: Give Americans more fuel efficient choices and they will buy them! Don't keep marketing 9 mpg monster SUVs with $1.99 gas giveaways and then say you are being responsible because you make other high-mileage cars in your fleet that no one buys and you don't market well.
Some here at 463 were working in the U.S. Senate in the mid to late 90s when GM and others killed sensible improvements in average fuel efficiency (CAFE standards) because their short-term profits would be effected. And now, it's the American consumers who are paying the price. But we're glad to see innovative companies like IonAmerica, SunPower, Seattle Biodiesel and many others demonstrating commitment to creating new fuels that will no doubt help us out of the whole we're now in. Keep it up.
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