Now the CEO's are coming to congress begging for cash, when their own shoddy product has no doubt had a role in their collapse (Chevy is a subsidiary of GM if I recall correctly). I searched around for a way to send feedback, and found a form where I could send feedback about their commercials, gave them a piece of my mind. I wish I'd saved the text so I could properly reference it, but the personalized response from the company was kind enough to include my original text:
Comments: Those Chevy 'Volt' adds just make me annoyed that it isn't already in production and available. This is 2008, there is no excuse. It doesn't convince me you need a bailout, it doesn't convince me to buy a Chevrolet that will probably need to be put in the shop in the first week, I already get over 40 MPG from my car made in Japan or Korea or whatever that hasn't broken down in 2 years despite a horrendously storied history. If you want me to support the bailout, how about an official apology for making progressively less safe, less efficient, less reliable cars for the last 20 years?
Now the response:
Dear Mr. Hawthorne,
Thank you for contacting Chevrolet and for your interest in the Chevrolet Volt! We appreciate the time you have taken to write us.
We apologize for any frustration the Chevrolet Volt commercial has caused. However, the target release date for the Chevrolet is currently on schedule. The Volt has always been scheduled for production in 2010. However, we will document your feedback regarding the Volt and our advertisements.
Additionally, we thank you for your opinion regarding government assistance. We wish it was more in line with our views, but we still respect and value your feedback. The rapid rise in fuel prices and the change in the auto industry have made market and economic conditions very challenging. We are responding quickly and aggressively with a steady stream of actions to better position GM for sustainable profitability and growth, including optimization of our operating structure, improving our cash and funding position and keeping our key product and technology investments on track.
Despite what you may be hearing, we are not asking Congress for a bailout but rather a loan which will be repaid. GM is seeking this loan from the government because overall the U.S. auto industry has been hard hit by the credit crisis. Carmakers have found it increasingly difficult to get credit to complete their restructurings and put new advanced technology vehicles into production. Customers struggle to get credit for new cars and other purchases, and consumer confidence has fallen to an all-time low. Suppliers are losing business because obtaining credit to keep them afloat until the industry recovers has been challenging. Dealers need credit to finance inventory and other routine business needs.
We appreciate that Congress recognizes the urgent need to help the auto industry weather this troubled economic period and to stem its current liquidity crisis. A critical portion of the U.S. economy rests on the industry's shoulders and we hope Congress and the Administration can work together to provide immediate aid. A healthy auto industry is an engine for creating the jobs, the new technologies, and the global business growth that America needs if it is to remain a great power.
One of the best things about America is that we have the freedom to discuss openly our personal values, ideas and beliefs. GM recognizes that individuals have many different views. We would like to thank you for sharing your comments with us. We have documented your concerns and we will forward your comments to the appropriate department at GM. Thank you again for taking the time to let us know how you feel.
New Chevrolet vehicles now come standard with a 5 year/100,000 mile Powertrain warranty. By offering the fully transferable 5 year/100,000 mile Powertrain warranty on every 2008 and 2009 car, SUV, and light duty truck, you receive the best coverage in America.
If you are not currently working with a Chevrolet dealership in your area and you would like to locate one, an easy way to do so is by using the Find a Dealer web tool on http://www.chevrolet.com.
At Chevrolet, we strive to provide exceptional customer service. If we can be of any further assistance please email us or call 1-800-950-2438, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8am to 9pm Eastern Time, and Saturday 9am to 6pm. Thank you for contacting Chevrolet!
Sincerely,
The Chevrolet Marketing Team
http://www.chevrolet.com
You have received this e-mail advertising GM products and services in response to your recent request for vehicle information. Please visit
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General Motors Corporation, 100 Renaissance Center, 482-MAR-100, Detroit, MI 48265
Now, I must admit that from the start I was mostly "for" the auto industry bailout. We've just given 700 billion to the financial industry, and they're an industry that barely has a reason to exist, the finance industry doesn't even hand out loans, they're just the guys who hold the moneybags and find all sorts of incredible ways to f**k us in the ass to keep as much cash for themselves as possible.
On the other hand, the auto industry makes cars. It so happens they've made a lot of crappy, unsafe, murderous SUVs, and lots of crappy, gas-guzzling sedans with V8 engines that spend more time in the shop than out of them. BUT -- at least they make a product, okay? Japan may or may not make better cars, but when is less competition ever a good thing? The Big 3 automakers going under may mean a lot of companies making crap cars are going under, but someone /will fill the void/.
Additionally, we can't strictly blame the auto industry for having problems right now. Our society expects us to take out loans to get a car, even if you're shopping for used vehicles you'd be quite lucky to find a decently running vehicle for less than 2,000 USD. Regular people don't have that much in liquid assets in a given month. The cheapest new car would start at around 20,000 USD. Nobody who works for a living has that kind of money. No loans, no car sales. This is a problem.
Furthermore, all those unions and suppliers that drive up the cost of these U.S. cars to the extent that Detroit loses about 2,000$ for every car that's sold, also mean a helluva lot of people who don't have the skills to compete in the global market are nonetheless being kept in the middle class. A healthy middle class is a good thing. The rich don't spend their money, the poor spend every cent they have to survive but don't have much, so overpaid company men (and women) are the real meat of a capitalist economy. At least auto workers are getting their hands dirty! They're making something! Shuffling papers around and swapping funny youtube videos all day at work seems kind of not worth 100,000$ a year in comparison, doesn't it?
So, bloated, greedy unions are about the only reason anyone in the U.S. who works their fingers to the bone, actually manages to get into the middle class. So, back on topic, the bailout.
I'm now highly convinced the bailout needs to go through, but this is what it must be used for: pay debts for one thing, those debts are often owed to U.S. businesses. The economy has been dragged down by debt, both national and private.
(The national debt is in fact, in large amounts, owed to U.S. businesses, ESPECIALLY small businesses that can't afford their own lobbyists, lawyers, and tax breaks. Going from the largest surplus to the largest government deficit ever within 8 years, just may have something to do with the recession, yeah? A lot more companies not getting paid, especially companies that are working for ecology, the green movement, etc.)
Secondly, while the Unions probably have to make some concessions, they should strive to avoid negatively impacting the livelihood of their workers. This would be bad for the economy.
Thirdly, make new, better products. Getting an electric car into production that can get 60 miles in a trip without a drop of gas is a pretty damn good idea. If it lives up to the old model of U.S. cars it will be designed to fail catastrophically and be in and out of the garage every other week so they can keep draining your pocketbooks on parts and "licensed" mechanics, but hey -- at least it's for a good cause, right?
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