The CEOs of the Big Three automakers were blasted by US lawmakers last month for bringing their tin cups to Washington in corporate jets. This time around, they seem to have learned a lesson in the value of political symbolism (oh, around $25 billion). So for this trip to the capitol, the Ford and GM CEOs have declared that they’ll travel in hybrid cars, no doubt with their tin cups safely nestled in the cupholders too. But lawmakers would be well advised to examine the symbolism of the specific vehicle models chosen by the CEOs for their journey.
Electric cars get more than their share of press these days. Just consider the Tesla Roadster, or the Chevrolet Volt. But a quiet startup in California, Miles Electric, may bring the first fully electric sedan to the US market within 18 months—and it would be the first Chinese-made car sold here as well. In an exclusive two-hour interview, president and CEO Kevin Czinger discussed the company’s strategy, its market positioning, and the development of its Highway Speed model.
The BMW 335d clean diesel sedan arrives in showrooms this month, followed by the BMW X5 clean diesel SUV in January. Before the public has had a chance to decide on the value equation of its first two luxury diesel vehicles in the $40,000 to $50,000 price range, BMW is now considering an even more expensive clean diesel 7-series sedan.
