At first, I was bothered by this as it felt a bit like ostracism. Then I took another perspective: Toyota is doing a lot right, unlike the Big Three. Perhaps the administration felt that the Big Three needed a little push...a little coaching...to help them take their heads out of their asses, and that's why Toyota wasn't invited.

After reading the article again, though, it feels like a publicity stunt, which I would have no problems with IF they had actually talked about gas mileage, too. Is that me being overly critical?

There is no more "Big Three" anyway. There are Ford and GM, both American auto manufacturers. Chrysler has been owned by Daimler, a German auto firm, for a few years now. Why would the president invite Chrysler to the table if it is not an American company?

Dave

Chrysler still has an "American" image though, and besides, Japanese people LOOK DIFFERENT. I don't think Bush would be caught dead giving the appearance of taking advice from a foreign-looking person. Nevermind that Toyota would still probably send an American to do the talking.

Anyway, I don't think Bush is at all serious about reducing oil dependence or there'd be a lot of things other than talking to car manufacturers that he'd have done by now, so this doesn't add much to the situation.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Wiyosaya @ Mar 26 2007, 03:29 PM) [snapback]412522[/snapback]</div>

And they still don't get it:

"Ethanol 'the answer,' auto execs tell Bush"

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/03/26/bush.au...s.ap/index.html

The article mentions that they "spent very little time" talking about fuel efficiency.

And how fuel efficient is the production of ethanol?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rfred @ Mar 26 2007, 05:32 PM) [snapback]412562[/snapback]</div>

Actually I'm glad Toyota wasn't invited and had they been, would like to have seen them turn down the invite.

Why?

This meeting was a "Look like you're doing something, while doing nothing" meeting. This meeting is collusion between Bush and the Detroit 3 to keep the status quo. Meanwhile Toyota literally keeps "Moving Forward" with ever more efficient vehicles.

The Detriot 3 are pushing E-85 because of the credits they get from each E85 vehicle allows them to build even more gas guzzlers. If you converted the entire corn crops in the US into ethanol production you would get up to only 6% of our total petroleum need.


Toyota's presence at the above meeting would have only been used to add an appearance of legitimacy.

Until Daimler divests itself of Chrysler, only GM and ford should be invited to the White house as American companies. I am sure Bush would take some heat from the labor unions and other entities with interest in Chrysler being invited.

As for Toyota being invited, I know that most of you have been taken in by Toyota's continually "we're really American too" campaigns but they are a Japanese company. Just follow the money, the profits go back to tokyo!

Maybe next time Bush invites Boeing to the whitehouse he should invite Airbus too!

Maybe, do ya think.. that it's because Toyota is ALREADY whooping the asses of the American car manufacturers?

Besides... they're Japanese. The Chrysler Daimler Benz shenanigans was a merger, not a complete buy out. They're still considered an American car company.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(desynch @ Mar 27 2007, 04:07 PM) [snapback]413149[/snapback]</div>

Saying Chrysler and Daimler "merged" is a stretch for sure! Toyota's time in the sun is growing short!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(malorn @ Mar 27 2007, 04:27 PM) [snapback]413158[/snapback]</div>

The quality of Mercedes-Benz has gone way down since the merger, while the general quality of Chrysler .. well, at least the .. well.

No..

They both suck now.

I heard the CEO of one of the big three touting the "flex fuel" option they are working so hard on implementing by .. get this:

2012

was the best thing they could come up with to break dependence on foreign oil and help consumers save money. Well this option cost around $100.00 while a hybrid drive system would cost $1000.00 (or more) Share holder profit is driving motivator here not reducing dependence on oil.

Also do you think you will have an Ethanol fueling station within lets say 100 miles of your home or work by 2012? I tell you I would not have a car if I had to drive 100 miles just to fuel up.

As for Ethanol is there even enough arable acreage in the US to grow enough fuel producing plants to supply the current fleet of US cars? Imagine what happens when millions of more people enter the road with their new car. We don't make more arable land the way we make more cars...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ichabod @ Mar 26 2007, 04:00 PM) [snapback]412554[/snapback]</div>

BUT, he has been listening to the House of Saud for the entirety of his term.......

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(malorn @ Mar 27 2007, 04:27 PM) [snapback]413158[/snapback]</div>

Let's see, it's DAIMLER-Chrysler. Corporate HQ is in Germany. Daimler is trying to sell Chrysler. Yup, that's a merger about as much as the Repuplic of Texas was merged with the USA.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Lywyllyn @ Mar 27 2007, 04:50 PM) [snapback]413176[/snapback]</div>

I've got one within a mile. Ford's Regional Transportation Center.

"Liquefied Propane Gas (LPG) — the first public underground tank in the US for automobile fueling; Ethanol (E-85) — the first tank on the West Coast; Biodiesel — the first tank in San Diego with fuel that is actually made from recycled french fry grease; Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) — San Diego’s first 3,600 psi fueling station; Electricity — the largest electrical charging station in San Diego; and Ultra Low-Sulfur Diesel. Three standard grades of gasoline are also available to fuel bi-fuel, flex-fuel and conventional automobiles. "

Regional Transportation Center

By 2012 I hope to have a plug-in Prius. (Or at least one with LiI batteries.) As soon as an EV Prius is available, I'll buy that. Whatever it is, Toyota will be ahead. They'll have the battery technology while GM is still making excuses why the Volt isn't in production.

Nice to know I can charge up so close.

What numb-nut would consider GM an American car company now days? :lol:
Read this month's (April 2007) issue of consumer reports! Much of GM's crap comes from Mexico and Canada. You'd be WAY more likely to have the lion's share of your typical Toyota being made here in the U.S. so heck, that dimwit Bush ought to have invited Canadian & Mexican auto makers to the White house. Then again, he just does what ever Cheney tells him to do. B)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hill @ Mar 28 2007, 12:44 PM) [snapback]413627[/snapback]</div>

Please stop continuing to spread lies about GM products. The majority content of what Toyota sells in the United states is imported from the island of Japan. You can continue to try and spin yourselves out of that fact but it is the truth. Enough with the bullsh**! I read the same article and after the author is done repeating what probably started out as a talking point list from Toyota he quotes an automotive analyst who refutes the whole article. enough!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(malorn @ Mar 28 2007, 01:17 PM) [snapback]413640[/snapback]</div>

A little riled up today?? A lot of any car is made out of the country nowadays. Am I the only one that doesn't seem to mind that my car purchase helped support Japanese families?? I would rather send more money to Japan if it means I send less money to the 'governments' of Nigeria/Iran/Iraq/Saudi Arabia/Venezuala.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MarkMN @ Mar 28 2007, 02:49 PM) [snapback]413655[/snapback]</div>

Come on now Mark ... you know consumer reports is filled with lies :lol:
Oh, wait! No SPONSERS!! Tough luck GM ... no way to pay-off to get a better spin on the truth!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MarkMN @ Mar 28 2007, 01:49 PM) [snapback]413655[/snapback]</div>

As long as you are honest with yourself and everyone about your decision it is yours to make. It is the disinformation that bothers me the most.

It's like in school. If you're a "good kid" (Toyota), you don't have to go to study hall.