First, the technology I was in reference to was the battery and electrical components that have caused numerous fires and small explosions in the Volt. I will admit that the drive train of the Volt is quite ingenious but not new technology by any means. As for the government subsidies and tax rebates the Volt has three times the tax incentive of it's nearest competitor. I personally do not believe the taxpayers should be picking up part of the tab on any new vehicle no matter who manufactured it or where it was built nor what powers it. I had to laugh, I could care less about red states and blue states and some geographical mind stunt used to con-volute the facts about Obummer. I am not a Republican, nor a Democrat, I consider myself a very open minded Independent who has seen enough of the Obummer - Biden show. In my opinion it's time to pull the curtain and wish everyone a pleasant evening on this act. That is the bottom line.
I completely disagree with your premise that gasoline will never reach five bucks a gallon, already in California, New York, and other parts of the country it is well above four dollars a gallon and climbing daily. Your argument that if adjusted for inflation five dollar a gallon gasoline isn't that bad would stand a chance of being valid if everyone's take home pay had also been adjusted for inflation, this however is far from the truth, in fact median income has diminished since the Obummer regime took the reins. Since Obummer has taken office I have seen my rights violated, the constitution ignored, very unethical actions taken by our justice dept, misguided and out right stupid economic decisions being made that just drove us further in debt, an attempt at a fundamental shift from a republic to a form of progressive socialism that I find extremely dis tasteful, and no it is not just the liberals and democrats, there is more than enough blame to go around. But blame has never solved a problem nor provided solutions to economic, environmental or global issues that face us right now. Someone once said that if you are ignorant you just don't know the answer, on the other hand if you are stupid you just keep making the same mistakes over and over. That is pretty much how I view Obummer, stupid, making the same mistakes over and over. Nice man, just not to bright.
An Alabama Industry Profile
Economic Development Partnership of Alabama
www.edpa.org
Automotive Industry
Alabama is the home to Mercedes-Benz, Honda and Hyundai assembly plants. Other
automakers have chosen Alabama to build their engines, including International Diesel,
which produces advanced technology diesel engines here. When Toyota built its first V-8
engine facility outside of Japan in 2003, it selected Alabama. Over the last 10 years, the
automotive industry has invested over $7 billion and created more than 35,000 new jobs
in Alabama.
Summary
In 1998, the first full year of production,
Mercedes produced 68,800 units in
Alabama. In 2005, automakers made
479,465 cars and light trucks in
Alabama.
Motor vehicles were Alabama’s top
export in 2004 at over $2.1 billion –
equivalent to more than 23 percent of
the state’s total exports.
Alabama’s automotive industry
represents ten percent of the state’s
manufacturing gross state product.
Prior to 1997 when the first M-Class
rolled off Mercedes’ production line,
Alabama produced no passenger
vehicles. In 2004, Alabama built its
1,000,000th automobile.
There are more than 90 automotive
suppliers in Alabama that serve either
Honda, Hyundai or Mercedes.
Alabama ranks 7th in U.S. light-truck
production (minivans-pickups-SUVs).
Source: Alabama Development Office Int’l. Trade Div., 2005
Automotive News Data Center, 2005
Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, 2005
U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2005
Employment
The auto industry in Alabama accounted
for 44,834 direct jobs and 79,356 indirect
jobs in 2005 with a total payroll of $4.8
billion.
Average Weekly Wage: 2004
Alabama Motor Vehicle Mfg.: $1,318
All Alabama Mfg Industries: $761
All Alabama Industries: $643
Source: Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Assn., 2006
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2005
Trends
In 1997, the first year of automotive
manufacturing in Alabama, 1,800 persons
were employed. In 2005, vehicle
assembly employment grew to 11,400 in
the state.
When the first car made in Alabama rolled
off the assembly line in 1997, production
capacity was 80,000 vehicles. In 2005,
Alabama’s production capacity reached
760,000 vehicles annually.
Car and truck engine manufacturing in
Alabama began in 2001. By 2005,
assembly capacity had risen to 1,000,000
engines annually.
Overview- Southern Business and Development magazine has three times in a row named Alabama
"State of Year" most recently in 2005, based on its record of job growth and economic development.
Growth in the automotive industry is only one example of Alabama's successful corporate investments.
The state has long been home to many world class companies including Mercedes, Wellborn Cabinets,
Honda, 3M, Boeing and more recently EADS, Toyota and Hyundai.
Alabama has recorded strong economic growth numbers. Its economic cycles have mirrored those of
the United States, though on a more moderate scale. Manufacturing is at the center of the Alabama
economy. The manufacturing sector accounts for almost 20 percent of the gross state product and 16
percent of the state’s nonagricultural employment. A major contributor to the state's success is AIDT,
the state's workforce training program ranked #1 in the nation by Site Selection in 2006, helps to train a
capable workforce for new and expanding companies.
Alabama is a state with great economic growth. The state’s pro-business climate allows its corporate
citizens to grow, prosper and profit. At the center of the United States’ fastest growing, most populous
region, and with 11 metropolitan areas and a variety of industry sectors, Alabama’s economy is
characterized by great diversity and a bright future for success.