CEO of Daimler Company, the makers of Mercedes Benz, Smart Cars, Fuso and more, is claiming that the auto industry won't be able to keep up with the strict regulations being placed on fuel efficiency. He claims that the over-optimistic expectations are just causing car makers to give up because they can't keep up with the rules so they don't even feel the need to try anymore. The CEO, Mr. Zetsche, claims that "In 10 years' time, the overall market share of electric cars is likely to be still in the single-digit percentage range."
Mr. Zetsche did however add that in 10 years the fuel efficiency around the world will be at such a high standard that the competitiveness that is beginning to be spurred now is necessary, just a little unrealistic. Regardless, Zetsche says that Daimler is "full on track" to have a completely electric car on the market in 2012, because of their 5 diget production rate. They have already presented an electric version of their A-Class in Paris this past October.
Despite all of the problems that have become relevant in the past year about electric cars, such as battery life, old gas storage, charging stations and more, I still feel that the auto industry as a whole needs to continue working hard towards perfecting all of their problems. In the near future, the whole auto industry will be electric and if America doesn't start to comply with the Obama regulations then we will fall behind and lose money. If we attempt to reach the standards and fall a little short, as long as the companies are close the auto industry as a whole will be fine and on the right track towards becoming the strong industry that it needs to be.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703848204575608230602308648.html?mod=WSJ_auto_IndustryCollection
I agree that even though the standards that Obama has set for fuel efficiency are high, we must strive to reach them. If we don't, then we will fall behind in the market and it will be extremely detrimental to us in the future. A good suggestion though might be to lower them a little. I am not saying to eliminate them, but maybe if the Obama administration made them more realistic the auto industry would be more productive.
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