Getting2Work

The headline “The 65 mpg Ford the U.S. Can’t Have” at businessweek.com caught my eyes.  Okay, so this was not today’s headline, hot off the press but it’s still warm enough for me to notice.  How could it not?  It’s an American car that gets 65mgp!!!!  Oh but wait … we’re not getting this in the US!!!!

Here’s a few points mentioned in the Business Week article as to why the Ford management feel that they can’t make a business case in the US:

1. Ford’s 2009 Fiesta ECOnetic runs on diesel … diesel as old-tech … whether the U.S. ever will embrace diesel fuel
2. the engines are built in Britain, so labor costs are high
3. price of the Fiesta to around $24,400 … Ford doesn’t believe it could charge enough to make money on an imported ECOnetic

So what’s up with us?!!!  Are we really that narrow minded in the US.  I would like to think not!  I’m a pretty average individual.  If I come across a topic that hit home for me, I would certainly hunt down more information so that when I have to make a decision, it will be a more informed decision.  Fuel price and clean air certainly are hot topics right now.

Yes, Toyota and Honda made and still is making the most noise in hybrid and fuel efficient cars.  But has there been any campaign for the new diesel?  Anyone care to point out …

• the new diesel vehicles are as clean or cleaner than gasoline
• 30% or more fuel-efficient

Here’s one from Honda.  The video/song is a bit child like and cute but you’ll get it.

As for the cost … I can understand that diesel engine is very different and we don’t have any plant here.  Okay, as Business Week’s follow up article’s point #5 pointed out, it’s not that easy.  But I am sure we would love the possibility of more jobs here in the US.

Here’s more points made in the follow up article from Business Week.  Yes, it’s not so simple … state taxes, regulations, prejudice, cost, etc.  But other car companies such as Honda, Nissan and Hyundai have diesel cars for the US in their plans.  Volkswagen and Mercedes both had cars approved by California and will be coming next year.  If we associate diesel as dirty and polluting, then use some other name like what VW (Jetta TDI) and Mercedes (Bluetec) did.  If we don’t think ahead and work together, we’ll be playing catch up again.