My suggestion is that you Google it. Why do I not just provide the link to you? The reason is that when I looked it up this afternoon (having read it awhile ago and the article I read said it was U.S. auto manufacturing alone) the links which quoted the same stat seemed to infer that it related to the Auto Industry as a whole (including imports). As I disagree with this interpretation, I will leave it up to those who are intrepid enough to do their own research to decide which way they wish to take the information. Either way, the point stands that the health of the Auto Industry as a whole is important to the overall U.S. economy.

p.s. If you are having trouble locating it, try search terms like “U.S. auto industry” and “1 in 10 U.S. jobs.”

I agree with you that many imports are built in the U.S. to get around the currency exchange and import tariffs. That said, that is not a good thing overall. It is good for the jobs it provides; however, the corporate taxes go back to Asia/Europe, the imports are GETTING AROUND THE EXPENSES THAT AMERICAN COMPANIES CANNOT GET AROUND (how many GM plants are there in Japan?), etc.

That said, you are right that the Asian and European companies did not get as tied up in the truck/SUV craze; but, I do not think it was anything more than luck. Toyota would be my example. Their biggest SUVs and trucks did not really hit the market until just before and just after the latest gas crunch began. Leftlane printed plenty of stories about how badly the Asian and European companies wanted a piece of the highly lucrative big vehicles pie. Then again, Toyota was still well placed to weather the gas crunch because they had long ago solidified their hold of the small car market by making top-notch vehicles.

I have owned it before, I am one of those whack-job Ron Paul supporters; so, I HATE bailouts. Yet, if that is the only way to save our auto industry, which has huge implications for our economy AND our ability to militarize for REAL wars, then I will swallow my pride and accept it. I do not think this is the only way. The first step is to go to our Japanese, S. Korean and German (if indeed they have the same restrictive measures, which I simply do not know) allies and try to negotiate the lowering of their trade barriers. If they refuse then we simply mirror their own tariffs. Sadly, I do not believe there are any politicians brave enough and strong enough to take this message to our allies. And, overall, the American people are either not able or not willing to see the necessity. Hopefully I am wrong on both counts. Just remember, 1 in 10 jobs. 1 in 10!

I do agree with Lionwithoutpride but up to a certain extend. If Big 3 learned anything from they would have seen the shift from truck/minivan to more fuel efficiency cars. Just think about it

Drive a 5.7L truck to work (80 miles round trip) or drive a eco-box 1.8L-2.5L. Its a no brainier if you ask me with one I would drive. The higher gas price made it more apparent.

Most imports are made in US to get around the currency exchange and the cost of importing the cars from country of origin.

Big 3 said that that is the major reason why they don’t import there European/Asian counterpart cars into the US it adds additional cost In fact, Leftlanenews articles mention this.

If you want to drive an import, that’s fine; however, until those countries from which we import cars remove their trade barriers, we should penalize them. Or, if you are one who believes it is okay for Japan to set a percentage of new cars that can be American, but you will not be okay with the U.S. having a mirrored policy then I think you should pay a HUGE tariff on your import. Don’t like it? I don’t care. I don’t like listening to import buyers say American cars “suck.” Why do they suck? Maybe because they are not making enough money to put into R&D, fit-and-finish, etc.? Are my ideas protectionist? Yes. Is protectionism bad for the international economy? Yes. Can America save its own economy without protectionist policies that only MIRROR those of other countries? No.

You do realize that without a bailout Ford would have to file for bankruptcy. Ford can not afford to make fuel efficient cars without getting 25 Billion from the government.

Any company that would dies without governmental assistance can not be a BARGAIN.