Having been sent home to refine their request for federal loans, the Detroit Big Three are apparently considering a plan to have a parade of UAW workers, suppliers and dealers drive their most fuel efficient vehicles directly to Washington, D.C., to prove that they haven’t been sitting idle and to paint a face of the American work force.
The automakers say they hope the initiative will help Washington connect the automakers with real employees, rather than jet-setting executives.
The suggestion was brought to the three top CEOs – Ford ’s Alan Mulally, General Motors’ Rick Wagoner and Chrysler ’s Bob Nardelli – by supplier Dura Automotive’s CEO, Tim Leuliette.
“We want to help dispel the myths” about the Detroit Three, Sean McGuire, Dura vice president of marketing, told the Detroit Free Press. “It’s important to show that these are truly high-tech companies that produce a variety of alternate-fuel and high fuel-efficiency vehicles.”
The goal – to drive a cavalcade of hybrids and other fuel-efficient vehicles directly to Washington – would bring together at least 100 industry leaders and local officials to a rally in support of the loans.
