“The recession certainly hit all models. Now we’re starting to see a lot of people come back to the market, including for new technology like hybrids and so forth," Thome said.
Almost every manufacturer on the floor of this year’s Detroit Auto Show - from low-end to luxury -- is now marketing fuel-efficient models.
Just as sales of General Motors widely publicized, electric-powered Chevrolet Volt enters a second year, the company is concentrating more on the green vehicle market.
GM’s director of regulatory affairs Mary Beth Stanek says shifting the company's focus away from less fuel-efficient trucks and sport utility vehicles is part of GM’s overall strategy.
“The green aspect has been coming along for some time. Naturally, we want to make sure we have alternatives to petroleum as well. Our business doesn’t want to be dependent on one particular type of energy source. So it moves us as a company to make sure we have a lot of offerings and that we kind of ride out the instability of petroleum pricing,” Stanek said.
Customer demand for smaller and more fuel-efficient cars continues to redefine the U.S. auto economy. That demand is re-opening shuttered facilities, and bringing jobs back to an industry that shed tens of thousands of workers in the last decade.
But it comes as bittersweet news for workers like Nicole Current.
“Although I am losing my job, as a union member, I’m just still one piece of that pie. I definitely believe that we are going in the right direction with the leadership we’ve got in place,” Current said.
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2013-11-25
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