They give the illusion they care just enough to satisfy themselves from a regulatory and legal standpoint. Regarding safety issues, as you say, the only reason for them to do this is because it’s marketable. Same with fuel efficiency or being green, etc.

That’s a pretty sad look at the auto industry – obviously they care about you some, or you don’t buy there product again. If you get hurt in an accident, you don’t buy that car again. If you DIE, they lose a customer. I believe they care more than you think. Look at how many manufacturers put on side airbags/stability control without any law that says they have to. IIHS does there own crash test 100x superior to the governments, so we don’t need their oversight there, or you couldn’t afford insurance on an unsafe car. People don’t want to pay their life savings at the pump forcing them to look for more fuel effecient cars – TADA! Auto manufacturers have to respond. It’s called competition – try opening up a economics book sometime – also read the part about how governments interaction in industry creates inefficiency for everyone.

Well, you gotta have some regulatory oversight under the umbrella of CAFE or safety standards, right? Left to their own devices, Automakers will morph themselves into a derivative of the Tobacco industry, if they’re not already at that point. Remember – Automakers don’t care one iota about you. Thinking they do is delusional.

These dealerships aren’t owned by GM or Chrysler! They sell cars for the company, and give the brand exposure. How is pulling franchises going to help them sell more cars?? It’s not, and it doesn’t make any sense.

-So when did the Democrats finally figure that one out? If that’s their honest belief WHY are we imposing ridiulous CAFE and safety standards on our cars? We’re so f#$%ed up.

Yet when they do go through bankruptcy and close some of the dealerships or THEIR local plants and suppliers do go under all hell breaks loose in Congress to protect their own.