President too dismissive of GM hybrids?

Posted: Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:24 AM by Chuck Todd

From NBC's Chuck Todd
There is a fascinating fact sheet that is making the rounds among folks with American auto industry interests. Clearly, someone at GM is not happy about the president's remarks last night regarding hybrids.

Here's what the president said at the press conference: “I’m not an auto engineer. I don’t know how to create an affordable, well-designed plug-in hybrid. But I know that, if the Japanese can design an affordable, well-designed hybrid, then, doggone it, the American people should be able to do the same.”

To try and correct the record, someone at GM points out.

"GM offers nine different hybrid models for the 2009 calendar year, more than any other automaker. With affordable hybrids like the Chevy Malibu, Two-Mode Hybrid vehicles like the Saturn Vue, the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra, we have the widest variety of hybrids that fit every need."

GM hybrids include:

1. Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
2. Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid (2-Mode)
3. Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid Crew Cab (2-Mode)
4. GMC Sierra Hybrid Crew Cab (2-Mode)
5. GMC Yukon Hybrid (2-Mode)
6. Saturn Aura Hybrid
7. Saturn VUE hybrid
8. Saturn VUE 2-Mode Hybrid
9. Cadillac Escalade Hybrid (2-Mode)

GM also maintains it will offer 14 different hybrids by 2012.
GM intends to offer 14 hybrid vehicles by 2012.

Now, double-checking the president's words again last night, he did use the "plug-in" description which is different from the current GM hybrids. But the supporter of GM is upset that president didn't acknowledge the hybrids that GM does have on the market.

EMAIL THIS

Comments

FR: Here's what the president said at the press conference: “I’m not an auto engineer. I don’t know how to create an affordable, well-designed plug-in hybrid. But I know that, if the Japanese can design an affordable, well-designed hybrid, then, doggone it, the American people should be able to do the same.”

==============

That's the same argument made by intelligent people in this country for nuclear power. But Obama thinks the US is dumber then France and Japan because he doesn't think we in the US can power our country with nukes.

Marie Curie (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:30 AM)

This is what happaens when politicians like Obama and the Democrats want to run the car makers, banks, insurance companies and health care. They don't have a clue about what they are talking about.

H. Miles (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:33 AM)

Obama bad for american business (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:34 AM)

More Camaros. Less politicans.

The Truth (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:37 AM)

Franklin Pierce, MI (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:38 AM)

Because Obama is in bed with the Big Oil Companies.

However, unlike Bush, Obama is protecting the foreign Big Oil Companies. At the same time he is preventing the American Oil Companies from drilling.

Maybe when he said he would create 3 million jobs he was referring to the foreign oil companies?
Obama bad for american business (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:34 AM)

--------------

Why do you think Obama is getting to be buddy-buddy with Hugo Chavez?

Drill There - Not Here (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:40 AM)

What, Obie dosen't know what kind of cars Government Moters makes. And yet he knows enough to fire the CEO.

Maybe he should spend more time working with the companies and less time working for the Unions?

Obama Union Man (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:42 AM)

He also said, "affordable"

The Malibu starts at $26k, the Tahoe at 51k, and the Silverado at 39k.

That's not 'affordable'. It doesn't matter how many different models they make if the public can't afford them. That would be like having a $5,000 burger at your restaurant in a small town. No one will be purchasing it.

Jack Sikma, Milwaukee, WI (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:46 AM)

BO drives a Ford Hybrid SUV in Chicago dopes

Also right wads, nucular energy isnt clean nor renewable, you just trade one bad energy for another and we don't rely on arabs for coal which is what nucular would replace. We gotta go all green or join you dopes and commit well you nkow you done ot already to this planet

Super Obama! (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:47 AM)

The president is right. No one cares about the current GM hybrids.

http://www.political-buzz.com

Matt (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:48 AM)

Wow, for the first time in recent history Obama has shown himself removed from current events.
Of course, his remarks are as much as GM's fault as his own.
GM has had hybrids for years but I'm just now starting to see commercials, and only for the Malibu.
GM should blame it's marketing department for this, not Obama's fact checkers.

Chris, Seattle, WA (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:48 AM)

The GM brand is so...lacking. I'm not sure very many people know what GM is producing. Our President is aware that GM does not have a plug-in car. GM executives are unhappy that they were exposed on national television that they are so...lacking.

Ron Indiana (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:48 AM)

stumbling, bumbling idiot. Can't speak a sentence without a teleprompter. You probably thought i was talking about Bush didn't you? No, it was our Mesiah bashing the US again. He can't say a nice word about our government owned auto companies. He must of forgot he wasn't overseas.

Mark, Valparaiso (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:48 AM)

Neither company will be around in a few years so it doesn't matter. Nothing buts w/ lawyers _________________ (fill in the blank with your one cause, screw the greater good and America) It's the democrat way.

Dave, Tn (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:49 AM)

Some really high posters today,The pro's from nopers spewing today about Obama in bed with big OIL.Confusion is a funny thing,also blinding for some.Now if the pro had gotten it right he would have said it was Bush and Chaney that are still sleeping with Oily sheets,they drip the stuff,they worship it and those that are in the biz.If not for OIl GWB would be just another spoiled rich kid who thought he was entitled to the spoil's of life.Now he has his own failures to live with,his low approval rating,along with Darth.GM had a chance to be first in the Electric car biz,they bailed under pressure from??????OIL.

jesse St.Paul Minnesota (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:50 AM)

Then GM needs to do a better job at MARKETING! Time for these auto companies to step up to the plate and hit one out of the park!

LAS, Chicago, IL (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:53 AM)

Take a look at the fuel estimates for those American hybrids...they offer only marginally better gas mileage than a regular car, and nowhere near the Toyota hybrids. I would call that an important factor for being considered "well-designed."

Bo, Raleigh, NC (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:55 AM)

So if Americans want hybrids and GM isn't selling them than there must actually be more to it than just the ability to make the hybrid vehicles. Maybe their business practices need an adjustment.

The point the President was making is that those who are supposed to know how to run an auto making company have not been doing it right. He couldn't do it but that is not his baileywick. For those who are supposed to be able they haven't and need to improve.

Actually we need to go beyond hybrid to cars that do not require any petrolium products at all, ever. Then and only then will we be fee of foreign oil. We have the people and technology to do it but have not used them effectively because we've been beholden to the foreign oil suppliers for so long. Change is coming and it is time we embraced it with all we have. America has led the way before and we can do it again. Although that is not what President Obama said I am sure that is what he meant.

eagle1776 (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:55 AM)

GM's hybrids are too expensive for the masses. What GM needs to do is make much cheaper hybrids that more people can afford or the Japanese carmakers will hog the market.

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:59 AM)

The people that had a clue ran GM to the ground and they came running to the government for help. These Republicans should just shut up.

Ben Purser, Royal Oak, MI (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:00 AM)

Here's what the president said at the press conference: “I’m not an auto engineer. I don’t know how to create an affordable, well-designed plug-in hybrid. But I know that, if the Japanese can design an affordable, well-designed hybrid, then, doggone it, the American people should be able to do the same.”

He did say "affordable". Our hybrids lack style and they are not really affordable. They haven't designed a car yet that a kid in college would want so badly that the parent will purchase. My first car was a brand new 1973 dodge challenger, it had style is my point. Those cars listed above...I wouldn't buy and I am older. What about style guys?

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:01 AM)

The car companies are bankrupt, and the Republican plan was to let them die.

So, respectfully I say to all the backbiters and second guessers . . . including GM . . . STFU!

If you were so smart, you wouldn't be begging the government for money. (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:05 AM)

The President is right, the vehicles that GM touts are not affordable, they are not reliable. Even their new commercial that touts "America We Need a Come Back" only shows 2 cars and the rest trucks and SUV's. GM still does not get it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Terry, Disabled Vet, Des Moines, IA (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:05 AM)

Further proof that he has no business trying to tell the American auto companies what to do.

KLM in MI (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:07 AM)

H. Miles (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:33 AM)
"This is what happaens when politicians like Obama and the Democrats want to run the car makers, banks, insurance companies and health care. They don't have a clue about what they are talking about."
----------------------------------------------------
Guess you chose to ignore his other statements about not wanting to run bank OR car manufacturere. He wants to get them solvent and find investors as fast as possible. He does NOT want to be in the BANKING or CAR business. He also does want them to fail. He made that VERY CLEAR.

Marie Curie (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:30 AM)
"That's the same argument made by intelligent people in this country for nuclear power. But Obama thinks the US is dumber then France and Japan because he doesn't think we in the US can power our country with nukes."
----------------------------------------------------
Well isn't it pretty darned dumb that we are so far behind other countries in our use of alternative energies? We have allowed ourselves to continue to be beholding to others (who hate us) in order to satisfy our gluttony for oil. THAT'S supremely dumb.

Go Barack, Denver (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:08 AM)

"...affordable, well-designed *plug-in* hybrid." Of which GM currently offers NONE.

@ H. Miles - Apparently the President does know what he's talking about. A shame more on this board don't as well.

Pacific NW Mark (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:09 AM)

This is a 'no brainer'

The Japanese design dependable, economical cars
American car companies don't

I looked at the Consumer Reports Auto issues before I bought my last two cars, in '88 and 2000
Japanes cars were ALWAYS the most dependable

End of Story

Detroit has had the WORST MANAGEMENT POSSIBLE
They've NEVER been committed to Quality, Dependable cars
THIS is the Result

Sometimes, chasing a 'Fsst Buck' and 'Maximizing Profits' doesn't work
Japanses companiew took the long term view

End of Story

My next car will be a Honda
(just like the last two)

MSierra, SF (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:10 AM)

...and not one of those Hybrids, to my knowledge, gets the gas mileage that the Prius does (unfortunately)

and (from one of the comments, not the story) what kind of mental gymnastics does it require to assert that "Obama is in bed with 'foreign' big oil companies?" From where does that Ridiculous talking point come?? (I'm assuming Faux News or Limbaugh...) Probably the same place from where the "Obama and the Democrats 'want' to run th car makers..." comes

Can't we have intelligent, fact-based debates in this country rather than getting bogged down in hysterical, ridiculous talk-show-host hype and hyperbole? Come on people, come back to reality, and at least try to base the discourse on facts.

MKDJD (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:13 AM)

'...9. Cadillac Escalade Hybrid (2-Mode)...'

COME ON !!

Cadillac Escalade ??
Conspicous Consumption in the worst extreme

It's TOO BIG !!

What mileage does the 'hybrid' get ??

STUPID DETROIT !!

MSierra, SF (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:13 AM)

From NBC's Chuck Todd
There is a fascinating fact sheet that is making the rounds among folks with American auto industry interests. Clearly, someone at GM is not happy about the president's remarks last night regarding hybrids.

Chuck I watched you on last night AS WELL. You got you butt dismissed quickly for being disrespectful didn't you? So now you are using the "poison in the pen method"? What I can't understand is way do you insist on being dissed on national news? I like MSNBC because thaey are know for reporting facts and not spin.

You seem to be in a world of your own. Again, if you actually look at the autos you listed, anyone will tell you that they are too pricey and lack "real style appeal". Okay Chuck, let's be professional.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:19 AM)

Lets stop and think about the list of 9 hybrids that GM offers. The first is a car, the next 4 are trucks or SUVs, the next 3 are Saturn which GM might no longer have by the end of the year and the last is a high priced car that many Americans cannot afford. So basically GM only offers one hybrid to compete with the Japanese. And we wonder why imports are increasing their market share as the US automakers continue to shrink.

Greg, Canandaigua, NY (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:20 AM)

BS on GM - Making a hybrid and getting a hybrid that actually get great gas mileage are two different things. Out of all nine GM hybrids, how many get more than 40 MPG? If you are not getting greatly improved MPG, what's the point? This is why Progressive has the 100 MPG challenge, not the *who made a hybrid but gets 4 MPG better than the non-hybrid* challenge. And BS on all you GOP dorks - you would still say Obama is a *insert favorite regurgitated tag line here* even if he solved world peace, world hunger and made all Americans millionaires. Shame on all you for not using your brains and proving why public education still sucks (or at least sucked when you went to school).

Bob in WA (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:23 AM)

I think the real difference here is where President Obama says,

"if the Japanese can design an affordable, well-designed hybrid, then, doggone it, the American people should be able to..."

So, GM, Lemme splain it to you since you are either divirting from the real issue or you're just too stupid up there in your corporate offices to understand.

The operative terms here in list format (since you seem to like lists) are:

1. affordable
2. well-designed

Look those up and get back to us. Oh, btw, your autos are crap compared to the Japanese.

BamaBoy (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:23 AM)

GM can whine all they like, but the president did say "well designed" as part of his description.

Its no secret that GMs aren't as well designed as Toyota or Honda. I remember reading not too long ago that when Honda was actually worried about Saturn about 15 years ago, they got one and gave it to their engineers to take apart. The answer that came back? "Um, don't worry about these guys."

Unfortunately I read that before I bought a Saturn eight years ago. Having had two Japanese cars prior, I thought I'd try to American answer to Japan. What a piece of garbage. And bottom line is that at about 110,000 miles, it was clear the car would start costing me more to keep than it was worth. Sorry, but when the average Japanese car gives you 300,000 miles before you reach that same equation, there's no comparison.

None of those cars were hybrids. But seriously, does anyone think GM would make a hybrid any better than the other junk it sells?

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:25 AM)

I think the key phrase in the President's statement is "welll-designed." Look at that list of GM hybrids. Only 2 sedans are in that list: the Chevy Malibu and the Saturn Aura. The Malibu Hybrid gets 26city/34hwy. The Aura Hybrid gets 24/36. The Honda Civic Hybrid costs $3-4,000 dollars less and gets 40/45.

GM execs need to stop with the PR machine and start making better cars!

Matt, Richmond, VA (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:27 AM)

Make them better and market them better GM. Maybe the comment should have been, "If Toyota and Honda can sell out of their hybrids then doggonit, so can GM."

It is still on you GM.

woman (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:28 AM)

Is there something wrong with the President saying "If the Japanese can do it, so can we?" To me that seems self-evident.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:41 AM)

Yep, and 5 of those hybrids are full size trucks and SUVs that offer less than 3MPG improvements with over $10K higher price tags.

Typical idiocy by GM

Joe - STL (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:42 AM)

GM isn't doing enough to promote their hybrid vehicles or to revive the all electric vehicle. That needs to be done first thing. Not many people know about the hybrids. There need to be more promotion and tax credits for them.

Personally, I think that all new vehicles should be hybrids (both gas or disiel). From there we can also look to have all eletric vehicles after that.

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:43 AM)

This is what happaens when politicians like Obama and the Democrats want to run the car makers, banks, insurance companies and health care. They don't have a clue about what they are talking about.
H. Miles (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:33 AM)

---

Hello pot, meet kettle. You obviously didn't watch the press conference last night and obviously don't know what you're talking about either, but nice try and blatant negativity, I guess after a while, you can't hardly help youself, huh. It must blow to live in your world.

JB, Houston, TX (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:51 AM)

This reflects a big part of GM's problem. When people think of a hybrid car, they think of a Toyota Prius or a Honda Insight. When they think of a hybrid truck, they think of uh, er, eh, nothing. GM, for all of its efforts, has not been able to come across to the public as an innovative car manufacturer.

KeithJS, Westfield, IN (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:52 AM)

The president is just referring to what everyone already knows, that in terms of affordability, reliability, fuel economy, and customer satisfaction, the Toyota prius has been at the top of the heap ever since hybrid technology became available for the mass market. And now the Honda insight is number two. GM has been late to the ballgame since the beginning.
Not that this has to always be the case. I would love to buy a car from GM as good as the prius or insight. Right now, however, it just doesn't exist.

AJ, Birmingham, AL (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:56 AM)

Plug in hybrids, which is not what GM has built, is different from ordinary hybrids, is all that GM has built. So, Obama did know what he was talking about!

pat huntington ny (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:58 AM)

there is a reason the Prius and the Insight are the top hybrids. They are the only hybrids to offer REAL fuel efficiency. My Prius gets better than 50 mpg. Can any of the GM models come anywhere near that?

Barbara VanHorn, Stuart, Florida (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 12:01 PM)

Say the country goes to 50% plug-in hybrids. Just where is the elctricity going to come from to power those cars? Right now, we have smelly old oil and gas power plants that produce the electricity. The demand of putting the extra load for the hybrids on the power grid of country isn't even close to being feasible. So what's Obama's plan for that supply of eletricity. And please don't embarrass yourself by saying wind or solar. We're talking about a 30% increase over and above what we currently use in the demand for electricty to power these cars.
Franklin Pierce, MI (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:38 AM)

------------
answer - from all the left over gas and oil those hybrids are saving...and when all the electric plants are upgraded, its cleaner to burn that fuel from there, then from all the cars...and with the added solar and wind energy, it can make up the demand even more, plus, yes, maybe a few extra nuke plants here and there...how about volunteering putting one in your backyard? or volunteering to store all the nuke waste in your town?

pat huntington ny (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 12:02 PM)

The President is right!! GM's problem is they build crap! If you look at their new ad "Amercia We need a comeback" They show only 2 sedans the rest are trucks and SUV's. They still don't get it. As stated in an earlier post look at their list of hybrids and you only see to cars, the rest trucks and SUV's!!!!GM Builds junk period

Terry, Disabled Vet, Des Moines, IA (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 12:02 PM)

Is there something wrong with the President saying "If the Japanese can do it, so can we?" To me that seems self-evident.
John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:41 AM)

Apparently not when it comes to nuclear power . . . .

Jarred Wilson (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 12:11 PM)

I bought American for years. My last car broke down every other day. When the oil started leaking for the upteenth time I asked the service manager what to do.

His answer: Buy a Honda.

I remember gas line in the 70s. The American car manufacturers should have been making smaller, fuel efficient cars then.

There may be American hybrids, but they don't come close to the fuel efficiency or the reliability of Toyota and Honda.

Honda has people test driving their hydrogen-fuel cell car in California. The Insight gets 43 miles to the gallon.

GM needs to face reality and build cars that will save people money.

President Obama said what many have been thinking over the years. If the Japanese can build cars people buy, then Americans can, too.

Chandler W. (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 12:13 PM)

GM's only PLUG-IN hybrid will be the VOLT which will come out sometime between 2010 - 2020. And only repugs will be able to afford them, since their starting price will be in the $40,000 range.

Brian, Cedar Hill, TX (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 12:17 PM)

Gm still doesn't get it. I remember watching GM talk about there hope for the future hybrid the Volt. Yes the car is sleek but with a pricetage of 40+g's who can afford one.

MsRoman (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 12:25 PM)

Next >>

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=1915541