The American auto industry simply cannot let go of the past. See the latest example below-a mass e-mail to all Nashville area Ford Motor Credit employees asking them to call on their representatives to strongly oppose raising the federal CAFE standards.
It's reasoning like this that will seal Ford's fate:
PLEASE SHARE THIS URGENT MATTER WITH YOUR TEAMS--
Even if you have already called their Nashville offices opposing the unrealistic changes to CAFÉ standards in the Senate Energy Bill, PLEASE CALL the Washington offices of Senator Lamar Alexander (202-224-4944) and Senator Bob Corker (202-224-3344).
Be polite, state your name and where you live in Tennessee. If you are a registered voter, mention that. THANK the person you speak with at the end of the call!
Ask the Senator to do 3 things:
1--SUPPORT the Levin-Bond Amendment to the Senate Energy Bill, H.R.6. (Read below for the reasons why.)
Significant Increases in Vehicle Fuel Economy. The Levin/Bond amendment raises fuel economy standards for passenger cars by more than 8.5 miles per gallon, requiring a minimum 36 miles per gallon car CAFÉ standard by 2022. The amendment also raises fuel economy standards for light trucks by at least 7.8 miles per gallon, requiring a minimum 30 mile per gallon truck CAFÉ standard by 2025.
Congressional Mandates for Energy Independence. The amendment has aggressive car and truck fuel economy standards that are very challenging for domestic auto makers. Although the industry has never supported Congressionally-mandated fuel economy mandates, the Levin/Bond standards balance important interests of reducing our dependence on foreign oil and carbon emissions with safety, jobs, and consumer choice.
Cars and Trucks Demand Unique Characteristics for Utility. The amendment preserves the critical distinction between passenger cars and light trucks. Cars and light trucks are designed and built with different and distinct characteristics. Passenger cars are designed to move people and light trucks are designed to pull, push and haul loads. Fuel economy standards for cars and trucks should not be combined into one standard because the vehicles are designed and made with different utility characteristics.
More than 10 Million Renewable and Alternative Fuel Vehicles on the Road Today. Congress has enacted effective financial and non-financial manufacturing and consumer incentives to encourage the production of advanced alternative fuel vehicles. As a result, auto makers are investing billions more each year to produce hybrid electric, diesel/bio-diesel, ethanol-powered, electric, and hydrogen-powered technologies and vehicles to the market.
Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Production Mandates. The Levin-Bond amendment requires energy providers to displace a portion of the gasoline in transportation fuels with clean renewable fuels. The amendment requires auto makers to produce at least 50% of their annual production of vehicles as flexible fuel vehicles capable of operating on gasoline, E85 ethanol, or any blend in between.
Advanced Vehicle Technology Mandates. The Levin-Bond amendment provides incentives and production mandates to encourage auto makers to continue offering a broad array of gasoline-saving vehicle technologies. The amendment requires auto makers to use advanced energy efficient technologies in 10% of their vehicles produced annually by 2017. Although the "leap-ahead" technology mandate presents a major challenge, auto makers believe the provision advances the debate toward gasoline-saving vehicle technologies and clean renewable fuels.
2--OPPOSE the Anti-Consumer mandates in the Senate Energy Bill, H.R. 6.
3--Keep in mind the 1,400 employees at the Ford Credit Nashville Business Center who will be affected by the Senator's vote.
The Levin-Bond amendment provides the most effective and cost-efficient means to achieve energy independence and significantly reduce foreign oil consumption. The Levin-Bond amendment requires real oil savings through the production of fuel efficient vehicles, clean renewable fuels, flexible fuel vehicles, and advanced energy efficient technologies. The Senate energy bill, H.R. 6, requires a 4% year-over-year mandate culminating to a 52 mile per gallon combined car and truck standard, which is economically infeasible and cannot be achieved by any full line auto manufacturer.
QUESTIONS? NEED MORE INFORMATION BEFORE YOU CALL? Call Scott Jackson, x53723.
If you would like your call added to our tally, send an e-mail to MLIBBEY@ford.com indicating you have called.
THANK YOU for your attention to this important matter!
-------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, we learn today that the Chinese are being energy-smart by ending all projects involving coal liquefaction and grain-based ethanol. As you can see from the e-mail above, Congress will be hearing from special interest groups intent on maintaining the status quo, so it is imperative that they hear from us as well.