I don't see it. I guess time will tell?

 

Also, by diverting funds from the Fuel Efficiency bill this may jeopardize Tesla's 500 million grant/loan to build a plant here in San Jose.

 

as cool as the tesla is, it's neither practical or cost effective. imho, the money is better spent trying to keep a few million americans employed rather than to help develop a sports car.

 

That's short term. Tesla represents advancement in technology, not just an expensive electric Lotus. And either way, these are loans, not giveaways.

 

No, it's an invest in the future. A bailout is an investment in the past.

 

Well by todays senate standards Tesla should have shown a viable plan to not just produce the sports car but also something that is practical and usable. But that's not what happens.

It looks like Bush may just approve the use of some of the financial bailout money to help the Big Three which would be one of the best things he's done in his presidency.

 

Or worst. Well, maybe not, since the Iraq war was the worst... but close.

Tesla isn't the one begging every week in congress.

Tesla isn't building roadsters in the SJ plant, they are going to build their touring sedan there. After that car they plan to make their first small economy car.

Maybe one day they will be as big as GM. I sure hope so. and I sure hope GM is something kids will read about in history class.

 

honestly, what's your beef with GM? it almost seems like you hope they go down.

if they, or any of the other domestic automakers, goes out of business, the trickle down effect will screw over the entire auto industry.

what if it was Kaiser Permanente that needed a loan to keep it's doors open? would you call them a dinosaur and wish that they went out of business?

 

the only real advancements in electric car technology are in terms of batteries.

technological advancements in terms of batteries that have the kinds of capacities and can handle the current draw that electric cars require come from...


the power tool industry. and to a lesser extent, the medical equipment industry. those two markets represent a MUCH larger demand for these kinds of batteries. companies like kokam and a123 don't develop batteries for cottage industries like electric sports cars, it's the other way around.

 

It's not about the sports car. It's about making electric vehicles a practice solution. They have great battery technology for their vehicle. It's only a matter of time before they expand on that. The only reason they chose to use a sports car first is for the extra publicity. They are not planning on becoming the electric version of Porsche. They have more practical cars farther down in the pipeline.

 

Wow you really seem to hate GM, considering they are ranked number three in overall average fuel economy including thier trucks. The only makers that get a better overall milage then them are Honda (by .5mpg) and Mini. I hope GM survives. I just wish they would completely restructure.

 

I hate them because they killed the EV program. They could've been ahead of the curve, instead they are pleading for money (which they will give to management somehow and the shareholders, and then fold, screwing the workers... mark my words.)

They listened to the accounting dudes who said "are you crazy?! sell the big cars, they make more profit!"

This isn't about MPG ratings, this isn't about hating on made in the USA... It's about a company with bad management, bad unions that are getting way too much in benefits (hurting the company), and it's about poor choices that give consumers poor products. It's about responsibility and liability... that those two things, in my opinion, should be held on the shoulders of the people who work for, run and invest in that company.

I don't see why they don't do the things that Sen. Corker has put up in the senate. It's a compromise, and the only ones who didn't budge was the Union. The Union is the one that is unwilling to lower the amount of benefits to the levels that forgien auto companies pay to their workers in the US.

Seriously, they can't make that sacrifice? I've sacrificed roughly $30,000 of my salary this year, it's tough for me, but I'm doing it to help the company and keep me working. I know, it's a not as huge as GM, but honestly, all the more important that union workers help and do their share, NOW, not in 2011 in a wage/benefit adjustment, now. Its gotta happen now.

Personally, I just don't see GM/UAW giving enough to warrant so much tax payer money. Also, I don't see them really trying to substantially change how they do business and how they operate. I feel they will do things they way they have been should they get all the funding, and even then, they will more than likely fail next year or ask for more money cause the economy is not going to get better anytime soon.

I think the biggest thing for me is that if they do fail, and now I do want Ford to do well, they are definitely working on better cars and have some solid projects inline for better truck motors and fuel efficient cars and are in a much better financial situation cause they moved to make changes a while back. That shows forward thinking... anyways, if GM/Chrysler do fail, it's not like they can't liquidate... or other companies can't buy those plants and retool and keep many of those people hired. People act as if all jobs will be gone, they won't. Toyota has been buying old dealerships at steal prices, I think companies in good standing would move in and buy plants as good prices as well.

At the end of the day, why can't these companies make it happen here in the US when foreign automakers can? One would think that these companies would run themselves like the foreign makes, then it shouldn't be an issue. That's was Sen Corker wants, and I think he's on the right track.