Automotive

WASHINGTON (June 30, 2009) — Today's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announcement granting California and 13 other states a waiver under the Clean Air Act to implement strong clean car standards demonstrates that "with regard to the waiver, science is back in the driver's seat", said Brendan Bell, Washington representative for the Union of Concerned Scientists' (UCS) Clean Vehicles Program.

"Along with last Friday's climate victory in the House, this is another sign that the federal government is finally taking action on global warming."    » read more »

June 30, 2009 -- Washington, DC - Automakers responded to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) granting of California's request to set their own greenhouse gas/fuel economy standards by reaffirming their support for the single, national program announced last month by President Obama.

"President Obama’s decision last month to create a single national program for greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy standards moves us toward a policy that ensures that consumers in all 50 states have access to highly fuel-efficient vehicles at an affordable price," said Dave McCurdy, president and CEO, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. "We are hopeful the granting of this waiver will not undermine the enormous efforts put forth to create the national program."    » read more »

Dallas company to upfit AT&T vehicles with alternative-fuel technology; BAF technologies to convert 600 vehicles with CNG technology in 2009

Dallas, Texas, June 30, 2009 -- AT&T today joined Dallas-based BAF Technologies to announce that conversion of vehicles purchased by AT&T to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is underway. BAF Technologies, the premier provider of natural gas vehicle upfits, will convert 600 Ford E-Series vans to CNG technology in 2009.    » read more »

2009-06-30 -- The EPA's granting of California's emissions waiver is not unexpected. The EPA's decision should not diminish the collective commitment and effort on the part of automakers, California, federal regulators and environmental interests to follow President Obama's direction toward developing a single, harmonized national standard that improves fuel economy and reduces vehicle emissions.

"We believe President Obama's national standard approach is a better way for the country and industry. A single, harmonized national standard will benefit consumers across America by putting cleaner, more efficient vehicles on the road quicker and more affordably -- for all. It is a goal that we fully support and which we've made a central part of our reinvention plans to create a new GM.    » read more »

GM Statement Regarding GM's Ownership Stake in NUMMI

2009-06-29 -- Statement of Troy Clarke, president, GM North America:

"As part of its long-term viability plan, General Motors has decided that its ownership stake in the New United Motor Manufacturing Incorporated (NUMMI) joint venture with Toyota will not be a part of the 'New GM’.

"After extensive analysis, GM and Toyota could not reach an agreement on a future product plan that made sense for all parties. Accordingly, NUMMI will end production of vehicles for GM in August, and there are no future GM vehicles planned for the joint venture at this time.    » read more »

UAW, state & local government support, and GM’s efficient, flexible manufacturing operations make competitive, profitable small car in U.S. possible

2009-06-26 -- DETROIT -- General Motors selected its assembly plant in Orion Township, Mich. and stamping facility in Pontiac, Mich., to build its future small car, which will add to the automaker’s growing portfolio of U.S.-built, highly fuel-efficient cars, including the Chevrolet Cruze and Volt. Today’s announcement will restore approximately 1,400 jobs in total -- 1,200 at Orion Assembly and 200 at Pontiac Metal Center, Building # 14.

This decision is dependent on the successful outcome of ongoing economic incentive negotiations between GM and state and local government officials.    » read more »

PERRYSBURG, OH – As part of the administration’s commitment to support manufacturing communities and workers, Vice President Biden today chaired the fifth meeting of the White House Task Force on Middle Class Families, called "Promoting American Manufacturing in the 21st Century."

The Vice President, who was joined by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and Director of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers Ed Montgomery, discussed new initiatives to prepare the manufacturing economy for the 21st century at Willard & Kelsey Solar Group in Perrysburg.

During the meeting, the Vice President also announced an Executive Order creating the White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers.    » read more »

Obama administration awards first three auto loans for advanced technologies to Ford Motor Company, Nissan Motors and Tesla Motors

June 23, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Today, the Obama Administration announced $8 billion in conditional loan commitments for the development of innovative, advanced vehicle technologies that will create thousands of green jobs while helping reduce the nation’s dangerous dependence on foreign oil.    » read more »

Urges Congress to pass Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act

Jun. 23, 2009 Washington, D.C. -- Local teenagers, Montgomery County Police Captain Tom Didone and Members of Congress joined Allstate today to unveil its live display featuring nearly 5,000 key chains, which represent the alarming number of teens who die each year in teen-related car crashes.    » read more »

55,021 retainees too get their allotment; deliveries begin in July

June 23, 2009 -- Tata Motors is pleased to announce that it has completed the process to select the first 100,000 owners of the Tata Nano from among the 2,06,703 final list of applicants who had booked the car. As announced at the launch on March 23, 2009, the first 100,000 owners were selected through a computerised random selection process. The company had said that the process would be completed within 60 days of the closure of booking on April 25.    » read more »

Stabenow statement on President Obama’s Executive Order to create White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers

June 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today made the following statement regarding President Obama’s executive order to create a White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers.

“Today’s announcement further demonstrates the Obama Administration’s commitment to helping communities that are most affected by restructuring in our automotive industry. With a new White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers in place, Dr. Montgomery and his team will have the resources they need to provide additional federal support to workers and families who need it most.    » read more »

Stabenow reaction to Energy Secretary Chu’s announcement that Ford will receive $5.9 billion in retooling loans

June 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow made the following statement regarding the announcement by Secretary of Energy Steven Chu that Ford will receive $5.9 billion in low-interest loans to retool older plants for the production of advanced technology vehicles.

The loans were awarded as part of the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program that Senator Stabenow authored last year, as part of a legislative effort that began in 2007.    » read more »

Alexander, Corker, Gordon Say Nissan Announcement Puts Tennessee at the Forefront of America’s Automotive and Energy Future; Nissan anticipates increase of 1,300 jobs in Smyrna when full production is reached

June 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and U.S. Representative Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.6th) said today that Nissan’s award of a $1.6 billion Department of Energy loan to produce electric cars and battery packs at its manufacturing complex in Smyrna, Tennessee, is outstanding news both for the local economy and for Tennessee’s position as a leader in America’s automotive and energy future.    » read more »

June 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – The Delaware congressional delegation, Sens. Tom Carper and Ted Kaufman (both D-Del.) and Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.), issued the following statement in response to Vice President Joe Biden’s announcement today of an Executive Order creating the White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers and naming Ed Montgomery as the executive director of recovery for auto communities and workers.

The goal of this new inter-agency council is to help communities and workers hit hardest by auto plant closings.    » read more »

Praises New Funds to Retool Ohio Auto Plants; Ford’s Cleveland Engine Plant, Lima Engine Plant, and Sharonville Transmission Plant Will Receive Funds from Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Program to Retool for Clean Energy Manufacturing

June 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) applauded the creation of the White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers today and praised the release of $8 billion in conditional loan commitments from the Department of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Program.    » read more »