Auto Alliance CEO: automakers "Embrace Change," want national regulations
Auto Alliance President and CEO Dave McCurdy has released an Op-Ed titled "Embracing Change" in which he unsurprisingly uses can-do enthusiasm to explain just how well the big automakers are gearing up for the low-carbon economy and don't want a nasty patchwork of laws. McCurdy repeats the automakers' new rallying cry for "a smart and predictable regulatory environment." Translation: California had better not get to define its own greenhouse gas emissions regulations for half of the states. McCurdy writes the President Obama should lead the way in setting this single national standard so that the industry knows which technologies to invest in. Does this mean that with Obama's strong support for plug-in vehicles that we'll see less focus on hydrogen cars in the future? Hm.
The Auto Alliance represents the views of BMW Group, Chrysler LLC, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz USA, Mitsubishi Motors, Porsche, Toyota and Volkswagen. You can read McCurdy's essay for yourself after the jump.
[Source: Auto Alliance]
OP-ED BY DAVE MCCURDY:
Embracing Change
By Dave McCurdy
Automakers get it. The low-carbon economy is coming, and only industries that adapt to that new reality will survive.
We intend to succeed.
Success is going to require that we raise the bar. Our economic viability depends on innovation, so our job is to get new technologies on the road as quickly as we can. We're deploying new technologies now and have more in our laboratories; we're already designing products for 2015.
And we have to design products that far ahead. The nature of our industry is that we must start planning production many years ahead of time. That's why it's especially important to us that we have a smart and predictable regulatory environment.
Here's the thing: the auto industry does support strong, forward-looking federal regulation. Did you know we supported a 40% increase in CAFE standards in the 2007 energy bill? We did. And we've urged the federal government to set the strongest achievable fuel economy standards for multiple years in advance, so that we can plan for success. The sooner we can plan, the faster we can achieve the higher standards.
And that's where the new administration comes in. President Obama said "we are committed to the goal of a re-tooled, re-imagined auto industry that can compete and win. Millions of jobs depend on it. Scores of communities depend on it. And I believe the nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it." We believe the Obama administration can show real environmental and economic leadership by setting a single national standard, bridging the gap between state and federal policies. In doing so, he will be addressing climate change while still protecting those millions of jobs and scores of communities.
The auto industry is doing the same. While we do need to know the roadmap to invest most effectively, we are already investing heavily in new initiatives, new technologies and green jobs.
We can and will make progress, but an integrated national plan is absolutely necessary. For instance, how effective will the billions invested in new hybrid and electric vehicles beif drivers do not have a place to recharge their plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles, as well as sufficient energy to power them?
Our big, national problems require collaborative, national solutions.
We are facing a lot of changes, but we are determined to embrace them. As President Obama said, "None of this will come without cost, nor will it be easy. But this is America. We don't do what's easy. We do what is necessary to move this country forward."
The changes are also opportunities: we have a new administration, and a new generation of consumers who are keenly aware of important energy issues.
We pledge to continue reinventing the automobile, to collaborate with government to address climate change and economic insecurity, to create green jobs for a new, low-carbon economy. It will not be easy, but our industry depends on us doing what is necessary to move this country forward.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
polo 11:49AM (3/26/2009)
California's been writing their own clean air regulations for the past 40 years, and states adopting Cali's standards haven't resulted in a "nasty patchwork" of laws. The automakers just want a WEAKER standard than California's. They know that they'll have to make all vehicles to Cali's specs, and they're betting if D.C. got to write the rules the standards could be watered down. Judging from the Obama admin and the EPA, thats not about to happen.
And since when was regurgitating republican industry-hack talking points "embracing change"?
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jharlan 4:02PM (3/26/2009)
We need national standards. It's the only thing that makes any sense. It doesn't have anything to do with Republicans. It's just better for everyone. The devil is in the details, but whatever we decide the details should be, it should be Nation wide.
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gorr 4:30PM (3/26/2009)
This auto-alliance are just a trick to monopolyse car industry against car consumers and taxpayers. They created a credit gimmick in the 1990's with tricky leasing plan where you pay for complicated contract and are charged money for unnessary maintenance, penalty for used tires and scratch, etc. They are just theifs. Stop any car expenditures and do like mexicans and cuba, keep your used car forever. Mexican shops repair old car and they even modified them with great skill, something to be learn by repair shop in u.s.a , canada, great-britain, japan, germany, italy, etc. They are probably behind the new law mandating to destroy old cars. They are going down the sink because i asked to commercialize a green car and they refused. People don't know but as soon as you become proeminent like senior managers in actual car compagnie, then many people offer you 'gifts' like paid whore and after they accepted that they become the puppets of banks and big-oil.
Consumers should buy stuff from honest compagnies or build their stuff if the stuff is just sh*t like actual cars. They even refused with the help of this site to put hydrogen gas cars on the f&c*ing road and they help to sell toxic petrol. At least we can get rid of these necrphobic gasoline-diesel-battery car builders.
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Mike!!ekiM 9:50PM (3/26/2009)
I'm guessing McCurdy doesn't own a farm, and isn't worried about water rights.
Nova has done a great show on the Arctic Glacier melt. It's 8 times faster then previously thought.
So, we're going to get drought conditions, yet, when it rains it will be torrential downpours. US Farmland is starting to bake. Flood plains will be wider.
But, no, we can't let the poor car companies worry about two sets of regulation.
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Rain 3:32AM (3/27/2009)
McCurdy was a hack politician Who discovered that he could make more money by being a lobbyist.
And so here He is,selling His snake-oil on behalf of the Oil Companies,the Auto Industry and as usual the Military Industrial Complex,
the same interest's Who's teats he's suckled for the span of His entire career.
Dave would better serve the public by doing honest work,maybe rounding up stray dogs,
instead of promoting wholesale death,poverty and hunger.
His opinion matters,How?
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