WASHINGTON, DC—In his weekly address, President Obama talked about his decision to rescue the American auto industry from collapse and save more than one million American jobs. Some were calling to let Detroit go bankrupt, but the President refused; now the industry is leading the world again and auto sales are the highest they’ve been in more than four years. In the coming years, new American cars will have higher fuel standards, which is good for the pocketbooks of middle class families and the environment. And thanks to the President’s bipartisan trade agreements, we are selling more American cars in places like South Korea. The auto industry demonstrates that when Americans are knocked down, we get back up and come back stronger than before.
The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, Saturday, October 13, 2012.
Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
October 13, 2012
Hi, everybody.
Every year around this time, American car companies start rolling out their newest, shiniest models, hoping to entice you into buying one. It’s Detroit’s chance to show you what they’ve been working on – the latest and greatest. And this year is no exception. They’ve got some pretty good-looking cars coming out.
But something is different this time around – and it starts with the auto companies themselves.
Just a few years ago, the auto industry wasn’t just struggling – it was flatlining. GM and Chrysler were on the verge of collapse. Suppliers and distributors were at risk of going under. More than a million jobs across the country were on the line – and not just auto jobs, but the jobs of teachers, small business owners, and everyone in communities that depend on this great American industry.
But we refused to throw in the towel and do nothing. We refused to let Detroit go bankrupt. We bet on American workers and American ingenuity, and three years later, that bet is paying off in a big way.
Today, auto sales are the highest they’ve been in more than four years. GM is back. Ford and Chrysler are growing again. Together, our auto industry has created nearly a quarter of a million new jobs right here in America.
And we’re not just making more cars and trucks – we’re making better ones.
After 30 years of inaction, we raised fuel standards so that by the middle of the next decade, cars and light trucks will average almost 55 miles per gallon – nearly double what they get today. That means you’ll only have to fill up every two weeks instead of every week. It’s good for your wallet, it’s good for our economy, and it’s good for the environment.
The technology that makes it happen will also help America stay on the cutting edge for decades to come. Just this week, GM announced they plan to hire 1,500 workers for a new research center in Michigan to help make sure the high-tech cars of tomorrow are designed and built right here in America.
I’ve also signed new bipartisan trade agreements into law, because I want to see more cars on the road in places like South Korea imported from Detroit and Toledo and Chicago.
All of this is something the American people can and should be proud of. It’s a reminder that when the American people put their mind to something, there’s nothing we can’t do.
So next time you see one of those brand new 2013 models on TV or on the lot, think about how far we’ve come together. Think about how – thanks to the hard work and can-do spirit of the American people – more of those cars and trucks are being manufactured by American workers at American companies in communities all across the country. And they’re going to save you more money at the pump.
That’s what America is all about. When we get knocked down, we get back up. We come back stronger. And as long as I’m President, that’s what we’ll keep doing.
Thanks, and have a great weekend.
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Watch video:
httpv://youtu.be/tTJP1APPxJk
What he doesn’t say is GM’s sales are mostly in China and his pet project the G.M. Volt is dead last in sales and has had it’s production schedule reduced to almost nothing. If the government had not purchased the Volt for it’s fleet the car would have gone under last year. Chrysler is now owned by the Europeans so who benefited by this. The only U.S. car company doing well is Ford and they didn’t take any of the government buyout because they didn’t want the government to have a say in their business. All he has done is get the price of a new car up to where you can buy a lot of houses cheaper. Again he misrepresents and flat out lies.
And let’s not forget the bail-out money spent in China with GM’s joint venture there. Nearly 70% of GM parts are foreign made.
There was a story on CNN last weekend about the chevy volt. The government spent millions of dollars building a new factory and hiring people to make the batteries for the volt, only problem is instead of the 3000 employees they only hired 200 and the factory has yet to produce a single battery. Instead the batteries are now being made in south korea.
Some people lie so much they convince themselves it’s the truth !! Almost like a con on craigslist for shipping fees- HA HA HA !
And how many trillion in dept are we now with all your give away programs promoting the deadbeat mentality. Our children will be burden with this debt for many years. That is the ones that don’t fall to the Obama method of sponging off those still willing to work for a living. He has to go.