Automakers Seek Help on Pension, Healthcare Costs and Ethanol Fueling Stations

U.S. car company executives are on Capitol Hill, seeking relief from pension and healthcare costs. The CEOs of GM, Ford, and Chrysler also want to expand the number of ethanol fueling stations. Despite anticipating layoffs and plant closures, the automakers stress they are not seeking a bailout. Industry executives emphasize the importance of the U.S. car industry, citing the jobs it supports. They advocate for more widespread use of ethanol-based fuels like E85 to enhance energy independence.

Key Takeaways:

• Automakers are seeking help with pension and healthcare costs, with executives from GM, Ford, and Chrysler meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
• The industry executives stress they are not seeking a bailout, despite anticipating large-scale layoffs and plant closures.
• The U.S. car industry supports 1.1 million American jobs, with a net loss of 11 jobs per 100 units produced by foreign imports.
• The automakers advocate for the use of more ethanol-based fuels like E85 to move towards greater energy independence.
• There are currently 170,000 gas stations in the U.S., and the automakers believe they would only need about 12,000 (6%) to have an ethanol pump within two miles of every major city and interstate highway stretch.
• Only 600 U.S. gas stations can currently handle ethanol, and the automakers want federal subsidies to increase the number.
• The scheduled meeting with President Bush has been postponed until next month.

Statistics:

• 1.1 million American jobs are supported by the U.S. car industry.
• 11 net jobs are lost for every 100 units produced by foreign imports.
• 170,000 gas stations are in the U.S.
• 12,000 (6%) gas stations are needed to have an ethanol pump within two miles of every major city and interstate highway stretch.
• 600 U.S. gas stations can currently handle ethanol.
• 12,000 additional gas stations are needed to meet the industry's ethanol goals.

Sources:

• NPR's Jack Speer reporting
• Mark Laneve, VP of Sales and Marketing for North America, General Motors
• Note: The original broadcast does not provide explicit dates, so they are not included in the article.