Fuel-economy rules could kill US auto industry: union chief

DETROIT, United States (AFP) – Tough new fuel-economy standards now pending in Congress could lead to the dismantling of what remains of the US domestic car industry, the president of the United Auto Workers union warned Thursday.

“We’re being told that we must choose between protecting our environment versus protecting our jobs,” said UAW president Ron Gettelfinger as he thrust himself into the center of a contentious debate over fuel economy.


Gettelfinger claimed that the current bill would force General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Company and Chrysler LLC to shift production of compact cars overseas.

“The US companies will no longer have an incentive to balance their full-size car production here with US production of smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles,” he told the Economic Club of Detroit.

“The inevitable result is that small-car production will be shifted overseas and tens of thousands of workers will lose their jobs.”

AFP