While the U.S. congress has previously been reluctant to bailout any sectors of industry, they may be willing to budge for the auto industry - 71 congress members have supported a proposal to give the auto industry $25 billion in loan guarantees, reports The Detroit News. These guarantees would allow manufacturers to recoup 30% of the cost of retooling plants and restructuring in order to become more competitive, with the condition that the investment takes place in the U.S.
The delegation also called for the provision of $5 billion in direct loans over the next 5 years, 40% of which would come in the form of tax breaks. On top of this, an $800 million advanced battery fund is also being called for in order to speed up development of a more practical electric car to get consumers to switch.
While the proposal still remains in discussion, certain industry analysts are calling any significant bailout scheme an unlikely proposition. However, the same analysts predict that without such bailouts carmakers may be forced to resort to more drastic cost cutting measures in the near future.
Reader Comments
Tue Jul 29 2008 8:16 AM
Tokugawa says
Good.
Tue Jul 29 2008 6:22 PM
HECTOR says
** Michigan congress members back billion-dollar federal aid package for U.S. auto industry **
Really?!?! Well! Smack my ass and call me Judy! I never would have thought!!! This was totally unexpected!
Tue Jul 29 2008 7:21 PM
bambam says
Yeah, I expected this, if the auto industry have a good strategy to get back up there in the US.
do they?
Tue Jul 29 2008 7:23 PM
bambam says
Off topic:::
Why is Toyota so secretive.
I hear nothing about there new models.
dame!
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