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A bankruptcy of the Big Three would not quickly benefit foreign makers. The transplants would be severely hurt by the closing of parts companies like American Axle, Delco and Visteon they share with the Big Three, and their output would fall. There would be far fewer new cars for sale for years, and prices would soar. Eventually imports would come from abroad, but they would be much more expensive than current autos. It takes years to build new plants, and in the current financial crisis there is no funding available for risky multi-billion dollar manufacturing ventures.<ref> Louis Uchitelle, "If Detroit Falls, Foreign Makers Could Be Buffer," [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/17/business/economy/17impact.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin ''New York Times,'' Nov. 16. 2008] </ref>
A bankruptcy of the Big Three would not quickly benefit foreign makers. The transplants would be severely hurt by the closing of parts companies like American Axle, Delco and Visteon they share with the Big Three, and their output would fall. There would be far fewer new cars for sale for years, and prices would soar. Eventually imports would come from abroad, but they would be much more expensive than current autos. It takes years to build new plants, and in the current financial crisis there is no funding available for risky multi-billion dollar manufacturing ventures.<ref> Louis Uchitelle, "If Detroit Falls, Foreign Makers Could Be Buffer," [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/17/business/economy/17impact.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin ''New York Times,'' Nov. 16. 2008] </ref>
==World history==
==Fuel efficiency==
The U.S. Congress has set a complicated series of fuel efficiency standards that the Big Three complain they have a difficult time meeting. California, with over 10% of the market, has its own higher standards. In May 2009 the Obama Administration announced new goals that would set the 2016 target of 39 miles per gallon for cars, compoared to 27.5 in 2008. For light trucks the 2016 target will be 30 mpg, compared to 22.5 in 2008. The rewquired technology will cost about $1300 a car, but drivers will that will be offset by fuel savings of perhaps $2800 over the life of the car, depending on the price of gasoline. The Big Three claim they can meet the new standards. The Ford Fusion hybrid launched in 2009 gets over 40 mpg, and Ford had started producing the EcoBoost engine, which will raise fuel economy by 15% and lower greenhouse gas emissions by 15%. It expects to sell 750,000 cars a year in the US with the new engine. BMW plans to meet the standard by exporting more diesel cars and trucks to the U.S.
[[File:Gas1945-2008.jpg|thumb|300px]]
Total gasoline consumption in the U.S. rose from 6.5 million barrels a day in 1980, and reached 9.1 million in 2004 and 9.0 million in 2008.<ref> See [http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/hist/mgfupus2a.htm online data]</ref> There will be little change in the next decade as increased driving is matched by more fuel efficiency. For that reason the major oil companies see no need to build new refineries in the U.S. With the rapid growth of driving in China and India, however, new refineries will be needed there.
==World history=
===Germany===
===Germany===
[[Daimler-Benz]] is the industry's oldest firm, building automobiles since the late 1880s; its current structure dates from 1926. In 1998 it bought the American Chrysler, then sold out in 2007 at a heavy loss as it never integrated the new car in its line.
[[Daimler-Benz]] is the industry's oldest firm, building automobiles since the late 1880s; its current structure dates from 1926. In 1998 it bought the American Chrysler, then sold out in 2007 at a heavy loss as it never integrated the new car in its line.