Tom LaSorda, Chrysler Group President and CEO, Urges U.S. Automotive Industry and Government to Solve Issues to Support U.S. Com
23 Janvier 2006 - 7:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
- Current Yen/Dollar Exchange Rate Maintains a Trade Advantage for
Japanese Manufacturers - U.S. Automotive Industry and Government
Partnership Can Reduce Dependency on Foreign Oil - Biofuels Offer
Growth Opportunity for U.S. Automotive and Farm Industries -
Announces Chrysler Group Use of B20 In Its Commercial, Military and
Government Fleet AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 23
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Chrysler Group President and CEO, Tom
LaSorda, spoke to members and guests of the Detroit Economic Club
today, calling for government and industry leaders to address
current issues facing the automotive industry. "If those of us in
positions of leadership do our jobs to make and keep our companies
competitive; and if all of us demand that our elected officials do
their part to enact and enforce policies that will level the
playing field, there's no doubt in my mind that we can achieve the
competitiveness of Japan, or the improved energy self-sufficiency
of Brazil," said LaSorda. More specifically, LaSorda viewed solving
currency and energy issues as a quick and meaningful fix that would
keep the U.S. automotive industry globally competitive. The trade
advantage that Japanese automakers have, has nothing to do with
products, quality, productivity or any of the other attributes that
we use to define competitiveness in this business, said LaSorda. He
also questioned the support of U.S. government policies that do not
call for the same advantage in the U.S. market. "The Japanese
Central Bank intervenes in currency markets to keep the Yen cheap
and to create an advantage for its industry. Why doesn't our
government do the same for us?" In the efforts to improve energy
solutions, LaSorda acknowledges that, "government-industry fuel
cell partnerships are working. DaimlerChrysler alone has already
put a total of 100 hydrogen fuel-cell-powered vehicles on the road
around the world and we're working with General Motors and BMW to
jointly develop a state-of-the-art, two-mode, full hybrid
propulsion architecture." Biofuels have also made strides in the
automotive industry as a means of improving energy solutions.
According to LaSorda, "We think biofuels are a win-win proposition.
They represent a huge opportunity to reduce our consumption of
conventional petroleum-based fuel and our dependence on foreign
oil." LaSorda stated that biofuels support the American
agricultural economy. Currently, the Chrysler Group offers the
Jeep(R) Liberty CRD which is fueled with B5 -- a renewable fuel
with a five percent biodiesel mix derived from locally grown soy
beans. During his speech, LaSorda announced that "beginning with
our 2007 Dodge Ram, we will endorse the use of B20, a 20 percent
biodiesel mix for use by U.S. military, government and commercial
fleet customers." LaSorda concluded by stating, "We all want a
bright future for this industry ... and so do our employees and
hundreds of thousands of others." But it will take a combination of
leadership in Detroit and in Washington to get the job done, he
added. First Call Analyst: FCMN Contact: kef17@dcx.com DATASOURCE:
Chrysler Group CONTACT: Kevin Frazier, +1-248-512-3469, , or Shawn
Morgan, +1-248-512-2692, , both of Chrysler Group Web site:
http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com/
http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/
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