Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Automakers
Turning Green? Poppycock.
There has been a lot of
buzz in the media about how automakers are going green and
the Los Angeles Auto Show has been cited as an example. I
say poppycock.
Sure GM debuted the Saturn
Aura hybrid and the GMC
Yukon hybrid in LA, but GM's real green buzz was
really generated by GM's plug-in
hybrid development announcement - even though the
company gave no timeline for an arrival. Is it 3 years,
five years, 10 years?
Anyway, at the LA Auto Show, GM put far more effort into
marketing their massive lineup of huge
Flex-fuel trucks and SUVs - not their hybrids. Saturn
hybrids, for crying-out-loud, were practically hidden at
the show.
While I would applaud flex-fuel hybrids, or very fuel
efficient flex-fuel compact vehicles, I cannot call GM's
flex fuel trucks and SUVs a huge green move. Flex-fuel
guzzlers are little better than gas-guzzlers. Even worse,
flex-fuel guzzlers seem too much like another excuse for
GM not to focus on real fuel economy.
Aside from GM, Nissan did debut the Altima
hybrid, and Ford displayed the newly designed 2008
Mercury Mariner hybrid and the 2008
Ford Escape hybrid, but Ford's real buzz was generated
by the new Mustang more than anything. In reality hybrids
were minor drivers for both Ford and Nissan at the LA
Show.
Then there was a lot of talk about clean diesel and
hydrogen. Blah, blah, blah.
Even Toyota, world leader in hybrid
cars, was far more focused on promoting the Toyota
Tundra, not its Hybrid Synergy Drive. Still, Toyota
hybrids did drive significant buzz in LA and it was
obvious many were checking out Toyota's hybrids as
potential buyers, not just gawkers.
Ultimately, automakers have realized that Americans are
interested in green issues, however, the keyword is
interested. Most Americans are still unwilling to help
fund the green revolution, and I think automakers are
keenly aware of this fact. At this point in time, green
marketing is possibly more important than green
automobiles.
Americans might be interested in hearing and talking about
the green revolution and energy independence, but they are
definitely not yet willing to revolt against energy
dependence by joining the green revolution.
posted by Dahcredyns
at 9:15
AM
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