Not to digress from the article so much but I do have a though as a consumer and a neophyte to the actual business infrastructure issues with the automakers. Maybe what they need to do is assist in reducing some of the cost of owning their products, which should help move more inventory for dealer lots. For example, I live in NYC, where maintaining auto insurance is fairly expensive. If the auto makers financial division and or institutions were to were to purchase bulk policies, making the buyer get their own liability insurance, and add them to the monthly payments should make owning the vehicle a bit lower, since individual full coverage insurance policy purchases always seen to be more expensive. I’ve personally seen some credit unions do this when they find that there is a lapse in insurance coverage for their assets (cars). I’ve run the numbers and Its cheaper than an individual full coverage policy. This is also while the person has their own liability coverage.

Any professional under writers and insurance agents reading this comment, please let me know if my stream of consciousness makes any kind of sense.

The US automakers need to make high profit 100% CNG vehicles for the WORK TRADES industry and the US government needs to “back them up”. Here are the benefits of selling vehicles that can gross $8,000 – $10,000 each:

1) Easy technology for CNG (way easier thatn the chevy volt)
2) Huge jobs for infrastructure build
3) foreign auto builders are not focusing in this area – thus they can’t compete well (we make great V6 and V8′s we suck at high teck 4 cylinder engines)
4) Your target market is: High Margin, High mileage and High Income
5) Reduce the dependeance on foreign oil.
6) All emerging markets are embracing CNG – If a bean fartin high tech powerhouse like Venezuala can do it, can’t the good ole USA??

good luck all

Jeflin