Professionals involved in the automotive industry have been under a barrage of information about the current state of the economy and how it is affecting the car business. Regardless of one's political affiliations, it's a fact that the domestic automotive industry feeds our nation's finances in a multitude of ways. Quite honestly, it doesn't matter whether you're involved in the industry or even drive a car, this situation will affect every single consumer in the United States in very broad ways.
How to give assistance has become a firestorm debate as the financial situation for General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Company, and Chrysler grows more precarious. General Motors, Chrysler, and Tesla Motors Inc. have already applied for loans under the existing $25 billion Energy Department program and according to Yahoo! News, Ford CEO Alan Mulally said the automaker plans to apply on Tuesday. GM, Chrysler and Ford have not disclosed the amount of aid they're seeking or for what purposes.
We've gathered a collection of links here to help give additional insight into the industry, as well as various opinions from automotive experts and websites. Please take a look at the collection, and share your own opinions here.
General Motors has created a website at gmfactsandfiction.com that gives the facts and fictions about the state of affairs in the United States Auto Industry by asking the simple question "What happens if the domestic auto industry collapses"? From plants to parks. From dealerships to driveways. From gas stations to grocery stores. What happens in the automotive industry affects each and every one of us. In fact, the collapse of the U.S.-based auto industry wouldn't just impact the more than 239,000 Americans directly employed by the Big Three. One out of every 10 people in America is employed in a service that is related to the U.S. auto industry. If a plant closes, so does its suppliers, the local stores, the hot dog vendors, and the local restaurants. Stop by this site to find out how devastating this collapse could become, and then use it as a launching board to communicate with your Senators and Representatives.
Erin Kotecki Vest gives her opinion in terms we can all understand in her BlogHer post making a case for the auto industry bailout when she says "My hometown needs jobs. People I know and love need plants to stay open, parts to keep on the shelves, and suppliers to stay in business. When a plant goes down an entire town goes down....It's past time for Detroit to get serious about regaining America's once-proud role as a leader in automotive engineering. Congress must hold the automakers accountable in any bailout to ensure that our clean car 'future' starts now." You don't have to be involved in the industry to understand her concern for the livelihood of her family and friends in Detroit.
On the eve of the first auto show of the season, rumors say several automakers are cutting back in this year's Los Angeles and Detroit Auto Shows; some aren't showing up at all. These shows are the premiere events for showcasing their new vehicles and courting new customers. "Clearly, we're affected," said Andy Fuzesi, general manager and co-owner of the Los Angeles Auto Show. "Everybody is clearly reassessing where they spend their money."
Warren Brown of The Washington Post says "An America without manufacturing becomes a starkly divided society...." He continues, saying "I'm often chided for my passionate support of the domestic automobile industry. But I don't mind the ribbing. My passion is a product of my faith in America, my belief in its ability to compete and excel, to innovate, to lead. There is something else -- gratitude ... and the desire to save an industry that put so many of my people on the road to prosperity." His excellent post supports a very important point, founded on this statement that "The American Three -- General Motors, Ford and Chrysler -- largely have been responsible for the development of a black middle class in this country. Many children of factory workers followed their parents onto automobile assembly lines. But
