The recent changing of the guard in Washington, D.C. comes at a time when U.S. automakers – and automakers worldwide - are at a crossroads, in case you hadn't noticed because you've been living under a rock or because the “help wanted” section is the only news you're interested in lately.
President Obama has come to power with promises to change, well, pretty much everything, including the auto industry - but how much of the promises and the hype should you take seriously? Here's a brief overview of what the Obama era could mean for cars. (We'll revisit these topics in more detail in the future when (and if) they rise higher on the national agenda.)
Autos in O-town, the Pie in the Sky:
When Barack Obama declared his candidacy for President two years ago, the world, the economy, and the auto industry were all 180 degrees in a different state of being. Want a car loan? Sure. Want a few extra thousand dollars tacked on to take home in cash for no particular reason? Why not? Try having that conversation at any auto dealer or bank today and you can time the laughter with a wall clock.