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Balladeer
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0 posted 2009-09-28 09:56 AM



Gore-Backed Car Firm Gets Large U.S. Loan

WASHINGTON -- A tiny car company backed by former Vice President Al Gore has just gotten a $529 million U.S. government loan to help build a hybrid sports car in Finland that will sell for about $89,000.

The award this week to California startup Fisker Automotive Inc. follows a $465 million government loan to Tesla Motors Inc., purveyors of a $109,000 British-built electric Roadster. Tesla is a California startup focusing on all-electric vehicles, with a number of celebrity endorsements that is backed by investors that have contributed to Democratic campaigns.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125383160812639013.html

Let's see...over 500 million to an overseas car company, which will not give any Americans jobs, to produce a $90,000.00 car that most Americans cannot afford. Well, why not? We are in so much debt what's another half billion? After all, Al Gore backs them!

p.s.   I would have included links to mainstream media coverage of this but guess what? There aren't any. What a surprise......


© Copyright 2009 Michael Mack - All Rights Reserved
Grinch
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Whoville
1 posted 2009-09-28 05:17 PM



I like the look of the Tesla roadster, I'd definitely have one but the price will have to come down, it was £110,000 over here the last time I looked!

A couple of points Mike, their government funding was to produce a new manufacturing plant at a brown field site in California to produce a cheaper family sedan version. The second thing is that only the chassis is made in the UK - by Lotus. The cars are built in the US.

Fisker?

I don't like the car, or the concept, or the bloke that runs it - his last venture in the car market, custom styling BMW's, failed miserably. They buy most of the parts used in their sports car from GM and then outsource the construction which is another reason to dislike them - they aren't car builders they're car salesmen. Their funding is to also produce a US built family sedan in California.

Tesla - I think they're worth funding.

Fisker? Where did I put that barge pole?


Balladeer
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2 posted 2009-09-28 10:15 PM


I would think Tesla would be worth funding, also, except for the fact that they produce cars no middle-class American can afford, especially now.

Fisker? Is it right for the administration to give them half a billion with the state of the economy the way it is? Is this supposed to be beneficial to America or Americans in some way? Or is the reason simply....Al Gore?

For those of you who still think that what Obama does, he does for the good of the country, I can't understand how you can accept this....and if you think some of that grant won't wind up in Gore's pocket someway, you are deluding yourself, friends.

nakdthoughts
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Between the Lines
3 posted 2009-09-29 08:23 AM


I did hear this  on the mainstream media the other night (I don't have cable and only get the  ABC, NBC, CBS stations now) and just  shook my head at the prices and the fact that they are to bring the price and style within the means of the American middle class (although I think cars cost too much already)  Why is it anything supposedly good for "us"  ( food, included) always costs more when if purer, has less additives?  No need to answer since I have been wondering this most of my life.

M

Balladeer
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4 posted 2009-09-29 09:25 AM


It's not supposed to be good for us, Maureen. It's supposed to be good for the democratic agenda and Al Gore, which it is.
Grinch
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Whoville
5 posted 2009-09-29 03:23 PM


I'm not sure Mike.

The Fisker funding is stupid to my mind based solely on the fact that I don't think it'll work given the history of the founder and the quality of the current product.

Putting that aside though the reason Fisker and Tesla both got funding isn't based on the expensive sports cars they're making now. They got funding to open American based plants to produce affordable sedans derived from the fuel technology used in their high-end sports cars.

What's in it for Americans?

The plants will be in America, built by Americans and manned by Americans. The cars produced will hopefully be the vanguard of affordable alternatively fuelled motoring. Whichever country pioneers that industry has a real chance to dominate the market.

Will the sedan version of Tesla's sports car be affordable to everyone? Probably not right off the bat but I expect it to be competitive with the alternatives available, and in what is a niche, yet expanding market, having the option to buy American has to be a good thing. Or are you happier to ship in the alternative fuelled cars from the far-east?

Tesla certainly have the technological know how, their sports car holds the electric powered endurance record at over 240 miles on a single charge.

I think you should be supporting Tesla - if only to keep the butt-ugly Toyota Prius off your roads. The fisker though? I'd kick it to the kerb.

.

Balladeer
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6 posted 2009-09-29 06:44 PM


Actually, Grinch, I do support Tesla. I would like for the cars to be cheaper, sooner, but at least the money is staying in the US and Americans are getting jobs because of it.

Those far east fellows? They are still laughing all the way to the bank thanks to the Cash for Clunkers program.

Grinch
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Whoville
7 posted 2009-09-29 06:51 PM



quote:
I would like for the cars to be cheaper, sooner


That's easily solved - increase their funding.



Balladeer
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8 posted 2009-09-29 07:01 PM


Of course. Throw money at a problem and it goes away.
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