Chrysler official blames gasoline prices on greed

[Jim Warren]

Not that Daimler Chrysler is exactly a consumer protection organization...........

April 10, 2006, 11:38PM
A resentful swipe at Big Oil
Chrysler official blames gasoline prices on greed
By JOSEE VALCOURT and CHRISTINE TIERNEY
Detroit News

Taking an unusually public swipe at another industry, Chrysler's chief spokesman slammed major oil companies Monday, accusing them of greed and indifference to the environment.

The blunt remarks by Jason Vines, vice president of communications for Daimler Chrysler's Chrysler Group, are bound to fuel tensions between Big Oil and the auto industry that have been rising in step with higher gas prices at the pump.

"Big Oil would rather fill the pockets of its executives and shareholders, rather than spend sufficient amounts to reduce the price of fuel, letting consumers, during tough economic times, pick up the tab," Vines wrote in a comment posted on a company blog used to communicate with journalists and financial analysts.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/3785382.html

[mike_c]

1. this from the industry that fights tooth and nail...

...against higher fuel efficiency standards. Sheesh.

[AndyA]

2. Chrysler does have a point - the hypocrisy is staggering

The American government gives a fortune in subsidies to the oil companies, when they are already earning record profits that go way past the obscene mark.

Meanwhile, the American airline industry and the American automobile industry are barely keeping their heads above water.

Why? Why are we subsidizing an industry that doesn't need it, and allowing others to go it alone?

Something stinks in Washington, and I think it starts with the President and his unethical actions to promote his friends companies. He doesn't have what's best for America at heart, this is just a big playground to Bush, and only his close friends and family are invited to play.

IMPEACH - PROSECUTE - INCARCERATE

[TreasonousBastard]

3. It might be noted that...

Daimler-Chrysler has been far behind the rest of the pack in fuel efficiency. A few very expensive diesel models just can't compare with even what Ford and GM are trying to do.

Mercedes and Chrysler engineers are perfectly capable of coming up with more fuel efficient models if they had wanted to, but laying the blame only on the oil companies because they might see lagging sales of their fuel hogs is a bit much.

[Jim Warren]

4. Swipe at the EX/Mobil ad

I think it was a swipe back at the ad ExxonMobil had placed.

I'dunno, guess I'll take it as an allright when I see them swinging at each other.

[cliss]

5. Who's the good guy & who's the bad guy?

Bad Guy: Chrysler, and all the other fat, bloated car manufacturers who had the chance of making more fuel efficient cars, but blew it. they went down the bad road & made SUV's, cars with crappy mileage.

Worse Guy: the oil companies, who are running their own industry into the ground, by ripping off the American consumer as long as they can. They know this merry go round will come to a stop, but for now they're on a joy ride.

Ultimate Hero: the American consumer, who will finally see through this bull-crap and DEMAND better gas mileage, DEMAND better city planning which allows for less gas use.

[madrchsod]

9. bad guy?

they built stuff the american people wanted to buy then the price of gas went up and "oh my god,i`m only getting 10 miles per gallon!"! did the auto companies force them to buy these hogs? no . by the way i drive a 97 intrepid with 237,000 miles and and it gets 25-30 miles per gallon seats 5 very comfortably and has about 2500 dollars worth of repairs. my other two cars are hondas one with 250,000 and the other with 167,000 miles..

[madrchsod]

6. MB/Chrysler

just spent close to a billion dollars in northern ill to rebuild their production and distribution system and they see that investment being threaten by high gasoline prices. chrysler before being bought by mb did develop a alternate energy proto type but at that time no one was serous but actually purchasing one so it was not feasible to build a car no one was going to purchase. mb does have very fuel efficient autos in europe but not here because of the market they sell in. if the american market really wants to buy a hybrid car MB/Chrysler will build it. after all they came from the grave to build cars and vans that no one thought any one would buy and people did buy chrysler products.

[iconoclastNYC]

7. Sometimes I wonder if Detroit and Big Oil colluded

Japanese have embraced efficient hybrids and Europe embraced Diesle....American companies embraced gas guzzling SUVs.

Before some free market fundy says : "that's what Americans want to buy" remember that advertising and marketing creates consumer desire.

[Jim Warren]

10. Historically, most certainly

GM bought up small mass transit trolley lines in urban areas and pulled them out.

The American taxpayer subsidized the auto/energy companies at least in part by footing the bill for the Interstate Highway System, even the robber train barons had to lay their own track and ballast.

(yeah I know.... they were given the rights of way.)

[gasperc]

8. screw the oil companies back, switch to hydogen and hybrids

have at it

[iconoclastNYC]

11. Perhaps you can tell me where i can gas up my car with Hydrogen?

Or better yet....where I can buy a hydrogen car?

:eyes:

[gasperc]

12. I meant the car companies

they seem to have been dragging their feet on this issue maybe people balking at SUVs will light a fire under their ass

[iconoclastNYC]

13. Oh ;)

Yeah it'd be funny if the car companies totally shut out the oil companies.