GM and the Automobile Market: Context

Clay CarrollSaira Gillani

Elysha ShipleyAndrea Young

Demographics

Demographics

• US population • Racial Percentages• Baby Boomers• Generation Y

• World population• Current Leaders• Future Population Leaders

US Population1

US Population1

US Population1

Racial Population Percentages3

• As of 2000 Census (major groups):• 69 percent “White” (slowest growing)• 13 percent “Hispanic” (fastest growing)• 12 percent “Black” • 4 percent “Asian or Pacific Islander”

The Biggest Targets:Baby Boomers4

• Own more than 70% of U.S. financial assets• Control 70% of U.S. households• Purchase 61% of all new cars and 48% of all luxury cars• Account for more than $2 trillion in income• More than 79% own homes • Use more traditional forms of shopping• More inclined to purchase American brand names• Buying cars they wanted in their youth but could not afford (i.e. Muscle

cars)• Larger portion of this market will be female as they grow older.

The Biggest Targets: Generation Y5

• Technology is a foundation of their education (reading, writing, arithmetic, and point-n-click).

• More diverse than any previous US Generation in race and household structure (i.e. single parents, etc.)

• Now entering high spending years of early adulthood• Internet is the main channel of media, information, and

communication.• Views direct marketing aimed at them negatively due to growing up

with marketing saturation.

World Population1

World Population1

Current Top Ten Countries by Population2

• China• India • United States• Indonesia• Brazil• Pakistan• Russia• Bangladesh• Nigeria• Japan

1,300,000,0001,087,000,000

294,000,000219,000,000179,000,000159,000,000144,000,000141,000,000137,000,000128,000,000

Future Top Ten Countries by Population (2050)2

• India• China• United States• Indonesia• Nigeria• Pakistan• Bangladesh• Brazil• Congo, Dem. Rep. of• Ethiopia

1,628,000,0001,437,000,000

420,000,000308,000,000307,000,000295,000,000280,000,000221,000,000181,000,000173,000,000

Population Data

• The World’s Population is Growing at a decreasing rate• Third world countries are experiencing the most rapid

growth• US is more Diverse than ever before with the minority

population growing at a rapid rate• India will soon pass China as the worlds most populated

country• The African Continent has many countries with high

populations that are growing

Sociocultural Trends

What Americans Want10

Percentage of Market by Vehicle

MinivanWagonsPickupCarFull-sized vanSUVHybrid

Type of Vehicle Percentage of MarketMinivan 7Wagons 3Pickup 19Car 44Full-sized van 2SUV 25Hybrid 1

Market Implications10

• Despite the hype, only 1% of the American market sought a hybrid vehicle in 2005. The hybrids are not expected to have a double digit market share unless fossil fuel runs out.

• SUVs are still a quarter of the U.S. market. The new trend in SUV’s is modest size. SUV’s are being downsized to deliver more fuel efficiency while still offering space and comfort. Examples are the H3 Hummer and the Honda Pilot.

Opinions On Reliability11

• In general, Americans perceive American-made automobiles as having lower quality and less reliability.

• In 2004, American cars outperformed European cars in a Consumer Reports reliability study-- American brands: 18 problems per 100, European brands: 20 problems per 100.

• BUT Japanese and Korean cars were reported to have only 12 problems per 100.

Most Reliable AutomobilesConsumer Reports' Predictions for Most Reliable 2006 Models12

• Small cars– Honda Civic– Toyota Prius– Honda Civic Hybrid– Toyota Corolla– Subaru Impreza

• Sporty cars– Honda S2000– Mazda MX-5– Lexus SC 430– Chevrolet Monte Carlo

• Sedans– Lexus GS 300– Infiniti M35/M45– Lexus IS 300– Honda Accord Hybrid– Toyota Camry– Honda Accord (four-cylinder)– Lexus LS 430

• Wagons– Toyota Matrix

• Small SUV’s– Toyota RAV4– Honda CR-V– Honda Element– Subaru Forester– Mercury Mariner– Mitsubishi Outlander

• Midsize SUV’s– Lexus RX 400h– Toyota Highlander– Toyota 4Runner– Infinity FX35

• Large SUV’s– Toyota Land Cruiser

• Pickups– Honda Ridgeline– Toyota Tundra

*italics denote GM brand

Safety13

• Safety is becoming more important to car-buyers. This trend began to see a large uptick with the Ford Explorer and Firestone tire problems.

• Experts name the following as being associated with a safe brand: Volvo, BMW, Lincoln, Saab, Honda, and Subaru.

• But, safety is becoming a top priority for all manufacturers.*italics denote GM brand

Safety: Examples of 2006 SUV 5-Star Crash Test Ratings As Determined by NHTSA14

Frontal Star Rating Side Star Rating SUV Driver Passenger Front Rear BWMX5 4DR w/ SAB 5 5 4 5 Buick Rendezvous 4DR 3 4 SAFETY CONCERN 5 Cadilac Escalade SRX 4DR 4 4 5 5 Chevrolet Equinox 4DR 5 5 5 5 Ford Escape 4DR 4 4 5 5 Honda Element 4DR 5 5 5 SAFETY CONCERN Nissan Pathfinder 4DR 4 4 5 5 Toyota Highlander 4DR 5 5 5 5

*italics denotes GM brand

Safety vs. Design15

• So, what is more important to consumers: design or safety?– According to a Consumer Reports survey, the

top ten features desired in a new vehicle are generally related to comfort, convenience, and entertainment. This is significant for GM because foreign-made vehicles are typically perceived as more stylish and comfortable than American-made vehicles.

Features: Design vs. Safety15

Considered very Present in Desiredimportant most-recently-purchased in next

new car new vehicle

1. Air conditioning 87% 93% 73% 2. AM/FM radio 74 90 68 3. CD player 64 61 654. Antilock braking system 63 77 65(ABS) 5. Cruise control 59 83 67 6. Power door locks 55 80 70 7. Full-sized spare tire 48 49 60 8. Anti-theft system 48 46 54 9. Power outside mirrors 47 68 6310. Keyless entry with 44 59 64remote 11. Side air bags 40 23 57 12. Traction control 37 33 42 13. Curtain air bags 35 10 5014. Tilt or tilt/telescopic 33 73 60steering wheel 15. Power-adjustable seats 31 47 56 16. Brake-assist system 29 23 2817. Four-wheel drive/all- 27 27 38wheel drive 18. Rear-seat side air bags 27 8 38 19. Active head restraints 26 23 3920. Electronic stability 26 16 35control (ESC)

The Profile of Daily Commuting in America16

• Personal Vehicle: 91%

• Public Transit: 5%

• Walking: 3%

A Look at Transit Trends 17,18,19

• About 1 in 5 families have 3 or more cars, despite flat income trends.

• The average driver spends about 62 hours a year stuck in traffic.

• More workers are opting out of carpools and mass transit, but the number of people working from home is increasing.

• Water buses/taxis and ferries are a new trend in public transit in places like Seattle, Boston, and Fort Lauderdale, but more tourists than locals use them.

Implications

• There are very few places in the United States that contain comprehensive, seamless mass transit systems. In most cases, commuters must have access to a vehicle to get to the public transit.

• Most cities in the United States are designed in a sprawling manner. Though exercise trends are up, these areas are impractical to navigate on foot or by bicycle.

• Thus, until these factors change, the need for vehicles will remain.

Economic Environment

The Current State of the Economy27

• The Federal Open Market Committee decided on November 1st to raise its target for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to four percent.

• Elevated energy prices and hurricane-related disruptions in economic activity have temporarily depressed output and employment.

• Monetary policy accommodation (i.e. Federal Reserve actions), coupled with robust underlying growth in productivity, is providing ongoing support to economic activity that will likely be augmented by planned rebuilding in the hurricane-affected areas.

• The cumulative rise in energy and other costs have the potential to add to inflation pressures; however, core inflation has been relatively low in recent months and longer-term inflation expectations remain contained.

What is the Federal Funds rate now?27

Federal Funds Rate History27

Economic Overview of the Auto Industry28

• Higher interest rates ahead• Flat demand• The Big Three’s (GM, Ford,

DaimlerChrysler) shares of the US market fell to record low of 60.1% last year

• 2005 US car and light truck sales should total 16.6 million vehicles compared to 16.7 vehicles in 2004

Economic Overview (cont’d)28

• Profits are down due to incentive wars.• Higher steel prices have added about $500

to the cost of an automobile.• Financing divisions are profitable.

Global Economy29

• Auto sales continue to rise on a global level.• Auto purchases in China should exceed five

million by the end of the decade.• China will emerge as the world’s second largest

auto market.

Global Light-Vehicle Production Forecast:North America vs. China29

(millions of units)

02

46

8

1012

1416

18

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

ChinaN America

Interest rates

• Interest rates have been rising for the past two years

• History has shown that when interest rates rise the demand for borrowing will decrease

• The automobile Industry relies heavily on sales through financing since most people can not afford to pay cash for an automobile

Trends in Inflation23

Category Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept.All Items 0.6 0.5 -0.1 0.0 0.5 0.5 1.2Transportation 1.9 1.8 -1.0 -0.1 1.5 2.2 5.1

Seasonally Adjusted Changes from Preceeding Month

Transportation costs increased 5.1% from August to September, while the price of all consumer goods only increased 1.2%. Transportation inflation has risen sharply since June. Transportation costs include new and used vehicles, gasoline, parts and equipment, maintenance and repair, and public as well as private transportation.

Inflation30

• The Federal Reserve Bank is always concerned with inflation of the nation’s currency.

• “Inflation Targeting” is a policy of announcing what you're going to do, and then doing it.

• If the incoming Fed chairman, Ben S. Bernanke, has his way, monetary policy will depend much less on the force of will, keen economic insights, and other exceptional qualities of the Fed's chief.

• Instead, Bernanke will move the Fed toward clear and coherent rules for hitting publicly announced inflation targets -- an operating style that he calls "constrained discretion."

How does “Inflation Targeting” work?30

• The central bank chooses and publicizes a target goal for the inflation rate -- say, 2% a year.

• The bank then publicly estimates how high it expects inflation to be in the coming year. It steers monetary policy to try to hit the target inflation rate.

• If inflation is getting above the target, the bank would ordinarily raise interest rates to cool the economy and bring inflation back down.

• If inflation gets too low, the bank would lower rates to juice up growth, raising inflation.

The Effect So Far….30

• For now, the choice of Bernanke to lead the Fed has not altered the outlooks for either the economy or Fed policy.

• The financial markets still expect the Fed's target federal funds rate to reach at least 4.25% by spring.

• Based on the expectations implied in the market for interest-rate futures, investors continue to believe the funds rate has a high probability of reaching 4.5% by April.

Inflation Targeting and Auto Sales31

• Inflation fears have eased.• A slow down in consumer spending and sluggish

growth contributed to lower sales in the 2nd quarter of 2004.

• Consumers spent 5.5 times their normal share of gasoline spending in the 2nd quarter.

• The scrappage rate of old vehicles has slowed.

High Fuel Prices Contribute to Industry Shifts32

• High fuel prices cause industry shifts to smaller cars.

• There is a low cost of entry into the compact car segment.

• Small car sales are up 9.5% for the first nine months of 2005 compared to 2004.

Gas Prices 35,40

Gas Prices and Production

• The United States is heavily dependent on oil, and much of the world’s supply of crude oil is located in the Middle East.

• The United States has created a national reserve of gasoline, but in times of natural disaster, such as the gas shortages after Hurricane Katrina, the U.S. becomes heavily dependent on other nations’ ability to produce and refine oil.

• As a consequence, prices are often tied to the policies of OPEC nations.

Crude Oil Production36

GM and Industry Shifts32

• GM will rely on its subsidiary, Daewood, to design and produce subcompacts.

• Daewood has the advantage of minimal prduct development costs and available plant capacity.

• GM sold 55,225 Chevrolet Aveos through September 2005. Up 44% over last year.

October Sales33

• New car sales dropped 33% the first nine days of October.

• GM sales were down 57%.• Automakers such as Ford and GM are reluctant to

launch sales incentives.• Industry officials feel that Hurricane Katrina is to

blame for high fuel prices and slow sales.

Technology

Technology: From Real to Surreal20

Current Technology and Who Has It21

• Blind-Spot Detection: an alarm or warning light deploys when a vehicle is in your blind-spot (2005 Volvo S60 and V70).

• Lane Departure Warning: a camera tracks road markings and sets off an alarm if the car drifts (several 2005 Infinities; 2005 Mercury concept car).

• Stability Control: sensors monitor brake pressure, tire and steering-wheel rotation, and other operations to determine if control is being lost. If so, the system automatically applies brake pressure (Toyota 4Runner, Ford Explorer, Jaguars, and all GM models by 2006).

• Airbags: a system adjusts the size and pressure of the bag, based on severity of the crash, the seat’s location, and whether the passenger is wearing a seatbelt (2006 Buick Lucerne, Cadillac DTS).

• High-Tech Headlights: – Lights swivel around corners at speeds exceeding 10 km/h (2005 Audi A6).– Lights brighten or dim based on levels of oncoming traffic (2005 Cadillac STS).– Night View technology illuminates everything up to 150 m ahead of you and projects

the image onto the windshield (2005 Lexus LX 470).

Internet vs. Dealerships9

• The dealerships are having to deal with their customers like the never have before due to the internet giving customers what they never had before--INFORMATION

• 2/3’s (and growing) of Consumers in the market for an automobile will use the internet for research.

• Now the dealers can not build value by simply telling customers the features of the car. By the time the customer has arrived at the dealership, they have already compared prices, incentives, features, and options.

• The customer is more prepared to shop around and it is very easy to do now because of the internet

Wouk and the Hybrid41

•Victor Wouk developed the first Hybrid car for GM in a 1972 Buick Skylark model.

•The hybrid has since become a sought-after technology among car manufacturers due to rising fuel prices and increased consumer environmental awareness.

•The hybrid technology consists of a gasoline fuel source and an electric fuel source. There are several modifications on the market today.

Fuel Cell Technology37

• A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that produces electricity by separating fuel (generally hydrogen gas) with a catalyst.

• Protons flow through a membrane and combine with oxygen to form water; electrons flow to create electricity.

• A fuel cell is composed of a piece of plastic between a few pieces of carbon plates that are sandwiched between two end plates acting as electrodes. These plates have channels that distribute the fuel and oxygen.

• Since it converts the fuel, hydrogen, and oxygen directly to electrical energy, the only by-products are heat and water. Without combustion, fuel cells are virtually pollution free.

Fuel Cell Development34

• California, Florida and New York will spend millions in the next five years to test electric automobiles powered by hydrogen fuel cells and to build a network of hydrogen fueling stations.

• The goals are to:• reduce air pollution.• counter soaring gas prices.• become leaders in the effort to build affordable

hydorgen-powered cars.

Hands-Free Technology 6,7,8

• 15 States have Bills Pending to Ban the use of Hand Held Devices in automobiles while driving

• Companies are developing Voice automated systems that use a Voice-Activated Interface to use wireless Multi-Media and Communication Devices

• These Devices will revolutionize the Car Driving Experience

Hands-Free Technology 7,8

• These devices will allow Drivers to:• Access and Manage personal Information• Access the Internet• Get Traffic and Directional information• Use their Cell Phone• Access news and Weather information• Download Streams of Audio and Video Content

Regulatory Environment

Hands-Free Legislation: Will It Affect What Consumers Want?6

Federal Regulation: The Clean Air Act42

• The Clean Air Act regulates air emissions from area, stationary, and mobile sources. This law authorizies the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to protect public health and the environment.

• The goal of the Act was to set and achieve NAAQS in every state by 1975. The Act was amended in 1977 primarily to set new goals (dates) for achieving attainment of NAAQS since many areas of the country had failed to meet the deadlines.

• The 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act in large part were intended to meet unaddressed or insufficiently addressed problems such as acid rain, ground-level ozone, stratospheric ozone depletion, and air toxics.

UAW: A Significant Influence on Regulation43

• The International Union of the United Auto Workers (UAW) has approximately 620,000 active members and over 500,000 retired members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

• In Washington and state capitols, the UAW is fighting for better schools for kids, secure health care and pensions for retirees, clean air and water, tougher workplace health and safety standards, stronger worker's compensation and unemployment insurance laws and fairer taxes.

UAW’s Power Over Benefits44

UAW’s GM Negotions: UAW’s Ford Negotions:

Natural Environment

The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming22

The greenhouse effect is responsible for the earth’s current climate and weather. It keeps the planet at a habitable level. However, when concentrations of greenhouse gases increase, problems occur that lead to global warming. The biggest implication is the resultant increasing of overall global temperature. In turn, this leads to the melting of polar ice caps, rising sea levels, increased evaporation, decreased soil viability, increased quantities of rainfall, and increased intensity of storms. Each of these factors can affect all species and their ways of life.

Temperature Over Time22

If global warming continues at the current rate, the average global surface temperature could rise 1-4.5 degrees F in the next fifty years, and 2.2-10 degrees F in the next century, with significant regional variation.

Use of Fossil Fuel: Exploiting Nature?22

• The burning of fossil fuels by automobiles and other sources have caused increasing methane and nitrous oxide concentrations. The carbon dioxide level alone has increased about 30% since the industrial revolution.

• If emissions control policies are not tightened, by the year 2100 carbon dioxide concentrations are projected to be 30-150% higher than today’s levels. The impacts of this increase could be disastrous in terms of global warming and its consequences.

Methane39

• Methane losses occur during the production, processing, storage, transmission, and distribution of natural gas.

• Because gas is often found together with oil, the production, refinement, transportation, and storage of crude oil is also a source of methane emissions.

• It is estimated that 60% of global methane emissions are related to human-related activities

Mass Transit and Helping the Environment38

• A study conducted by the American Public Transit Association found that in 2001 alone, public transportation use in the Atlanta area saved 19.3 million gallons of gasoline and kept more than 300 million pounds of pollutants out of the air.

• The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is Atlanta's state-of-the-art public transportation system.

• MARTA costs $1.75 for a one-way fare.

GM SWOT Analysis

Strengths24

• GM has many divisions under its umbrella, most of which are associated with strong brand recognition.

• GM has led global industry sales since 1931.• Manufacturing operations are carried out in 32 countries, and GM

vehicles are sold in 200 countries.• For four consecutive years, GM has set industry sales records in the

U.S.• GM is the majority shareholder in GM Daewoo of South Korea.• GM has developed several partnerships around the world:

– Technology collaborations with DaimlerChrysler, BMW, and Toyota– Vehicle manufacturing ventures with Toyota, Suzuki, Shanghai

Automotive Industry Corp, AVTOVAZ, and Renault

Weaknesses25

• Accounting practices are proving to be an internal problem for GM.

• GM is trailing behind competitors in innovation, especially relating to fuel-efficient vehicles and cosmetic appeal.

• GM has a significant challenge in terms of paying for pensions and employee health care costs.

• In comparison to competitors GM has a weak ROA, ROE, OM, and stock return.

• Union regulations keep GM from making personnel changes that could better the position of the company.

Opportunities

• The rising price of fuel can create an opportunity to produce and sell more fuel-efficient cars.

• New global markets are emerging (i.e. China, India) and will be important to the future of all car manufacturers.

• Safety is becoming increasingly important to the consumer; investing in augmentation of the safety profile of their vehicles can be an opportunity for GM.

• Many consumers are still looking for products that are “Made in the USA.”

Threats26

• Prices of gas may cause some consumers to switch to mass transit and/or buy fewer SUV’s.

• The expense of the American work-force (i.e. pensions, healthcare, higher wages) will necessitate higher cost of goods sold.

• The Federal Reserve has increased rates twelve consecutive times since June 2004, and economists are predicting at least three more increases. This will negatively impact borrowing and buying trends for vehicles.

• Inflation for transportation has risen sharply since June, and will be a threat to car manufacturers, as consumers will bear the brunt of price increases.

• Japanese and Korean car-makers are leaders in creating cars with fewer mechanical problems

• Japanese and European car-makers are leaders in designing upscale luxury cars.

References1. US Census and World Population Data., 2000.,

www.census.gov 2. Top Ten Countries by Population

http://www.prb.org/pdf04/04WorldDataSheet Eng.pdf3. Race and Hispanic Data, March 13, 2001, AP release.,

http://cnnstudentnews.cnn.com/2001/fyi/news/03/13/hispanic.census/

4. Akers, Karen., More Boom For Your Buck., Winter 2001., http://www.logomall.com/imprintPM/issues/winter-2001/Features4.htm

5. Generation Y., Nueborne, Ellen., February 1999., http://www.businessweek.com/1999/99_07/b3616001.htm

References6. Hands-free legislation., Map 2004.,

http://www.headsetzone.com/nylegislation.html7. Hands free, Phone-Or Press Release., Feb. 28, 2000.,

http://www.phone-or.com/nwPrRel2.asp?RelID=58. Hands free technology., Newsfactor: Los Angeles Newsroom.,

October 12, 2000.,http://www.wirelessnewsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=5255

9. Internet vs. Dealerships., Lohr, Steve., Just Googling It Has Companies A Bit Unsettled ., November 05, 2005., http://articles.news.aol.com/business/article.adp?id=20051105145309990002&_mpc=business.10.1&cid=403

References

10. Naughton, K. and Raymond, J. “Hybrid Nation? Nope.” Newsweek. 10 Oct. 2005, Vol. 146, Issue 15. 11. “American Cars—Reliability Versus Desireability.” Edmunds.com. 02 Apr. 2004 http://www.edmunds.com/news/column/carmudgeon/101636/article.html. 12. Carty, S. “Japanese Brands Show ‘Nicks’.” USA Today . 26 Oct. 2005 http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2005-10-26-consumer-reports-usat_x.htm#. 13. Karolefski, J. “Crash Course in Auto Branding.” BrandChannel.com. 21 Apr. 2003 http://www.brandchannel.com/features_effect.asp?pf_id=154. 14. “Search for 2006 SUV.” Safecar.gov. 10 Nov. 2005. 15. “20 Most-Important Car Features.” ConsumerReports.org. Oct. 2005 http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/are-consumers-sacrificing-safety-for-comfort-1005/mostimportant-car-features.htm. 16. “Commuters Love Their Cars.” USA Today. 13 Nov. 2003.

References

17. Nasser, H. and Overberg, P. “Americans Hang on to Bigger, Better Lifestyles.” USA Today . 27 Aug. 2004. 18. Knecht, B. “Mass Transportation to Get Sleek and Daring.” Architectural Record . Jun. 2004, Vol. 192, Issue 6. 19. Sharp, D. “Transit Tries to Take a Load Off Roads.” USA Today . 12 Apr. 2002. 20. Hiemstra, G. “Driving in 2020: Commuting Meets Computing.” Futurist. Sept./Oct. 2000, Vol. 34, Issue 5. 21. Intini, J. “Safe Can Be Sexy.” Maclean’s . 28 Feb 2005, Vol. 118, Issue 9. 22. “Climate.” United States Enviornmental Protection Agency. http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/content/Climate.html. 23. “Consumer Price Index: September 2005.” United States Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

References

24. “Company Profile.” GM.com. 14 Nov. 2005 http://www.gm.com/company/corp_info/profiles/. 25. Friend, C., Harjati, E., Staffey, V. “Automible Manufacturing Industry: Competitors Overview.” 26. Crutsinger, M. “Fed Expected to Keep Raising Rates.” Ya hoo News. 2 Nov. 2005 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/fed_interest_rates;_ylt=Alx8nQOYM.EG5ViLf0VrQynAlakA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl.

References27. http://money.cnn.com/2005/11/01/news/economy/fed_statement/index.htm?section =money_latest

28. Kerwin, Kathleen and Welch, David. Borrowing from the Future. Business Week, January 10, 2005. Issue 3915

29. Miel, Rhoda. Experts expect automotive sales to rise. Plastics News, January 12, 2004. Issue 45, Volume 15.

30. CMO Private Placement Letter. Auto sales emerge as economy’s soft patch. September 27, 2004. Volume 22, Issue 37.

31. Peter, Coy. What's the Fuss Over Inflation Targeting? Business Week. November, 7, 2005, Issue 3958

• Johnson, Richard. Industry shifts to smaller cars. Automotive News. October 24, 2005. Volume 80, Issue 6173.

• LaReau, Jamie. Ford, GM sales screech to a halt. Automotive News. October 17, 2005. Volume 80, Issue 6172.

• Kenworthy, Tom. States get into the driver’s seat of fuel-cell development. USA Today. April 14, 2005

References35. American Gas Cost:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/0d/Gas_Prices_Medium_Term.png/300px-Gas_Prices_Medium_Term.png

36. Figure 1.1 Energy Overview: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/pdf/pages/sec1_4.pdf

37. Fuel Cell Technology Showcase: http://www.sae.org/fuelcells/fuelcells.htm

38. MARTA: http://www.itsmarta.com39. Methane: http://www.epa.gov/methane/sources.html40. Mobile Gas Price:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/08/images/050830_gas_prices.jpg

References

41. Goodstein, J. “Godfather of the Hybrid.” Engineering and Science. 2004.

42. “Clean Air Act.” Environmental Protection Agency. 18 Oct. 2005 http://www.epa.gov/region5/defs/html/caa.htm.

43. “Who We Are.” UAW. http://www.uaw.org/about/uawmembership.html.

44. “Auto Contracts.” UAW. http://www.uaw.org/contracts/index.cfm.