Why, with the rising cost of oil, don't US manufacturers come up more quickly with high-mileage vehicles?

Question

Why, with the rising cost of oil, don't US manufacturers come up more quickly with high-mileage vehicles?

Answer 1

Well stay tuned to this

http://100mpgcar.blogspot.com

You might just learn a few interesting things.

Answer 2

US auto manufacturers (like every other company) are in business to maximize stockholder return on investment.  Period.

Exactly what they produce to achieve this return, isn't of a lot of soul-searching importance to the company.

So the exact nature of the engine in a car, whether it be internal combusion, wankel, electric, hybrid, fuel cell, etc. is of secondary importance.  If people buy it and it is cheaper to make than other engines, then it is going to be sold.

So with gasoline expensive, people buy fuel-efficient vehicles and dump their SUVs.  Car companies build what sells, and they stay in business.

Answer 3

All the American car makers are sitting on high mileage technologies but refuse to use them...why I don't know.

Answer 4

It takes time to ramp up production, most factories are set up to produce x number of units per year, once they reach that number they can’t produce anymore. So in order to produce more of that type of car, then need to make new dies for stamping, convert another plant to produce them then start production.

Answer 5

they haven't been making them because no one would buy funny looking little light weight  cars.

if they made cars no one wanted they would no longer be in business. it takes several years to design,test &  put into production any new car, especially one as different as the high mileage ones will have to be.

to see a car you can buy now that meets the new federal 35 mpg mileage standard signed into law last year look at the mercedes "smart car". & get used to it because thats what you'll be driving in the future if your lucky enough to be able to afford one.

Answer 6

High-mileage vehicles will require extensive redesign, not simply alteration of mechanisms already in place. That can't be done quickly. How do you make vehicles lighter so as to get better miles per gallon but make them equally safe? You have to develop new materials and alloys, and they have to be developed and approved. Some things can be done--like not making as many big SUV's and making more smaller, fuel-efficient cars. Detroit is doing some of that.

Redesigned or totally new vehicles have to be safe and agreed upon as so. No big corporation is going to risk a lot of money and lawsuits over safety and they shouldn't if you want them to succeed.

You have to develop new engines that may or may not use petrol. That means extensive experimentation. The technology is just not there yet. Once it is, you have to develop the machines to make the new design once the new designs are available. You have to train the workers to use the new machines to manufacture the redesigned products.

The unions get involved. They may be an economic drag on change, but workers need to be paid. American labor laws are partly a drag on the system; that is why Honda and Toyota and other countries can move faster. They can fire faster and adapt more readily. Their economies are less stable. It's a trade-off.

You have to prepare the US public for buying different kinds of automobiles. People are reluctant to commit a lot of money to something that may not work well. You have to coordinate with the oil companies to be sure that the right blends of petrol and ethanol and additives on the market will be available if such are required. You have to figure out a way to introduce the new vehicles and sell them to a public now reluctant to buy. Less money is coming in to the auto makers at a time when more money needs to be invested. That slows things down.

You're certainly right that new high-mileage vehicles are what is needed, but the automobile industry is an old, entrenched industry, with complex, established, and difficult-to-break ties to other sectors of the manufacturing in the global and national economy. It is difficult to act quickly. I don't say that Ford and GM and the others are doing as well as they can, but it is a tall order.

Ten years is a quick time to put a truly revolutionary vehicle on the road. In the meanwhile, you and I can do what we can do. Drive when you have to, never when you don't. Carpool. Take public transport.

Answer 7

With the high price of fuel, consumers are finally starting to back away from purchasing those low mileage Trucks and SUVs.

As always there are those that feel that the statis symboll of being able to afford to drive these fuel hogs will still be buying them.

When people quit buying the poor mileage vehicles, then the Auto manufacturers will finally get the message and start looking to build the more efficient ones.

Answer 8

US manufacturers were sleeping (or dreaming).  They should have started three years ago.  It takes 4 or 5 years to get a car from idea to production.

Answer 9

because of money, if you have noticed, the country as a whole is using less fuel, so the greedy son of you know who continue to raise the fuel price so as they have keep the the hold.  shortage ....no   storm at sea....no  greed.....yes, going to take the usa down.....yes

Answer 10

because the oil compainies wont let that happen theres money being put into pockets that nobody knows about

Answer 11

They are working on it right this moment. There is a lot of money to be made if you can make a consumer car that gets good mileage. The economy car market is re-expanding. Manufacturers are trying to balance mpgs and comfort into a car that will actually sell. It is not as simple as putting the smallest engine on the smallest chassis that you can. Consumers expect at least some degree of comfort and luxury. They want a vehicle to not only get good fuel economy, but to be comfortable and preform decently. Getting the most marketable balance is very difficult, involving massive sums of money and many years of research and development. Automakers are trying to get the most fuel economy with the most performance as they can. The man who can get the performance of a Corvette, with the economy of a Prius for the price of a Kia will be a wealthy person.

Answer 12

Ford,G.M.,Chrysler has been selling little diesels,for over 7 years in Europe.Some get over 70 mpg and run over 100 mph.The problem here is E.P.A. and people want a fast 0 to 60 mph car.I'd rather take 20 seconds to get up to speed and get 70 mpg at 80 mph.