| General Motors Corp (GM) chairman Richard | | | | "As Detroit's Big Three and Toyota launch an |
| Wagoner has reportedly told shareholders at the | | | | astonishingly short-sighted advertising and lobbying |
| company's annual meeting recently that GM is serious | | | | campaign to block even modest improvements in |
| about speeding up development of the new | | | | vehicle fuel efficiency, it is time for Washington and |
| technology needed for the electrified Chevrolet Volt. | | | | Detroit to address the fact that our nation is needlessly |
| GM has previously announced building the Chevrolet | | | | losing the race to develop the best fuel-efficient vehicle |
| Volt in 2010. The concept version of the car features | | | | technology," said Pam Solo of the Washington-based |
| a maximum range with a full tank of gas and charged | | | | Civil Institute. |
| batteries of 640 miles. The Volt's gas motor never | | | | "Increasing fuel efficiency can simultaneously reduce |
| drives the wheels directly, but instead provides power | | | | our reliance on Middle Eastern oil, cut greenhouse |
| to the electric motors. | | | | emissions, save quality auto industry jobs and help build |
| However, later during that day after the | | | | the US economy," Solo said citing surveys of potential |
| shareholders’ meeting Wagoner was in | | | | voters that show 75 percent favor tougher emissions |
| Washington along with top executives Alan Mulally and | | | | standards. |
| Tom LaSorda from the Ford Motor Co and Chrysler | | | | Mark Cooper, director of research at the Consumer |
| Corp respectively, arguing against tougher new fuel | | | | Federation of America, said the fuel-efficiency target |
| economy standards pending in Congress. | | | | proposed by the domestic carmakers and Japanese |
| "Frankly, it's time to move beyond exclusive reliance on | | | | rival Toyota was 30 percent too low. |
| historical regulatory approaches that clearly haven't | | | | Detroit's automakers, however, remain dependent on |
| solved these critical problems ... and move forward to | | | | sales of gas-guzzling pickup trucks and large sport |
| embrace solutions that will yield the results that | | | | utility vehicles (SUV) – sales of which are slipping as |
| Americans expect and deserve," Wagoner said. | | | | consumers react to rising gasoline prices. Sales of |
| "For example, it has become increasingly clear that, of | | | | small cars on the other hand, continue to increase. |
| anything we can do over the next decade, biofuels | | | | GM's Wagoner appeared to be gearing up for the |
| have by far the greatest potential to actually reduce | | | | trend, announcing at the annual shareholders meeting |
| US oil consumption, reduce oil imports and reduce | | | | on Tuesday the award of two contracts for |
| carbon gas emissions," he said. | | | | advanced development of lithium-ion batteries for its |
| The appearance of the three executives drew sharp | | | | new Chevy Volt – which was introduced as a |
| reactions from environmental and consumer groups. | | | | concept car at the Detroit automobile show in January. |