by pup55 » Thu 06 Dec 2007, 09:31:46
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'P')up, Dow has been lobbying the automotive industry and everyone else involved to adopt efficiency measures as there costs are absolutely through the roof
Ironically, there was a post the other day on the fuel efficiency standards to the effect that the current US legislation is about 10 years behind the Chinese and Europeans as far as bringing the mpg up to 35. So in effect, they are getting their wish: They will get their standards, but it will be because the Chinese and Europeans are selling all of the cars. They are just adjusting their assets to take advantage of the fact.
Dow is into all of those adhesives and plastics, in other words, all of the stuff that is being used to take weight out of the cars to make them more efficient.
The US auto producers still are clinging to the belief that this current oil price regime is temporary, and they can make money selling SUV's. The reason for this is that this is what their focus groups are telling them. There is still a substantial consumer population that believes that we will get back to the 1990's level pricing, and they can go back to the behemoth Explorer.