President Barack Obama doesn’t do much of his own driving these days, but the President recently traded in his Chrysler 300 on a Ford Escape Hybrid. Apparently President Obama greatly prefers his new ride to his old, giving the Escape Hybrid a ringing endorsement at today’s announcement on fuel economy standards.
After announcing the new 35.5 mpg standard on Tuesday, President Obama gave an offhand plug of his Escape Hybrid. “By the way, I just want to mention, I think I still have my Ford parked in Chicago,” Obama said. “It’s a Ford hybrid, it runs great, you guys should take a look.”
Ford CEO Alana Mulally was happy to hear the plug, but the other nine auto execs in attendance weren’t as thrilled. Quickly realizing his bias comment, President Obama added: “But there are also some outstanding hybrids and energy-independent cars represented up here, so I didn’t want to just advertise for one,” according to the Detroit Free Press.
We’re not sure if Ford’s lack of federal funding played into the President’s comments but with Chrysler currently in bankruptcy and General Motors on the verge of Chapter 11, it seems the President could have at least added a few more Detroit models to his list of endorsements.



05/19, 4:50 PM
posted by:
shane train
No. He should endorse the way he did. With a personal experience testimonial. Why should he mention other hybrids beside the one he has chosen to put in his own driveway?
And Ford deserves it too, for actually practicing capitalism successfully and taking care of themselves. Why should he praise Chrysler and GM who have consumed so much bailout money? Why should he shell out free advertising?
He’s not Billy Mays, he’s the President. He’s not an advertiser. It shouldn’t be expected. Ford should be grateful. The others shouldn’t be upset.
05/19, 5:03 PM
posted by:
DrFill
He was right to endorse, and right to not want to show favoritism, and hurt other hybrids in the process
The Escape is fine, but you will definitely notice a loss in performance compared to comparable gas crossovers.
It trades performance for gas pretty clearly
DrFill
05/19, 5:05 PM
posted by:
TomF
He should “shell out free adveritising” for Chrysler and GM because unless the public stops perceiving them as sick, dying or dead pups, the goverment loses its ante and we all eat it. Like it or not, the prez is in the metal-movin’ business.
05/19, 5:06 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Obama’s right that Ford, which is not owned by feds and their UAW lapdogs (or vice versa) and not subject to His Highness’s Dictatorial KKKomandments, will produce a better product.
As such Shane is right for once. Hard to believe.
05/19, 5:12 PM
posted by:
shane train
mayer_ray_nagin- I don’t understand like 90% of that, mostly whoever His Highness is and what his Dictatorial KKKomandments are.
But yeah. Believe it or not, I think he should give a testimonial to what he likes.
05/19, 5:31 PM
posted by:
DenverGuy217
Me thinks the Obamas own some Ford stock….
05/19, 5:34 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
If you have flash installed and want a laugh about Chrysler and Fiat, check out this link.
http://www.minyanville.com/mvtv/player/MVTV.1.10.swf?vid=703
05/19, 6:20 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
Too bad the hybrid system in the Escape is from Toyota :S
05/19, 6:47 PM
posted by:
Bubs Solo
JakeK66
You are so wrong. Please wiki the subject.
05/19, 7:46 PM
posted by:
Dr. Lincoln
Have you driven a Ford Lately? Obviously Mr. Obama has…An American President should say good things about American products, made by Americans, with American money, Man, Henry Ford would be proud, I am and you should be too. Hey, JakeK66 the hybrid system in those Asian cars is based on Americam locomotives, made in America, by Americans. I love this country.
05/19, 9:12 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
So… it’s alright if celebrities endorse the Prius without mention of “other hybrids”, but he can’t mention just Ford?
JakeK66- I’ve said this atleast a hundred times on LLN. Ford’s system is NOT based off of Toyota’s. NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT,NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, based of Toyota’s.
That’s it!
05/19, 10:27 PM
posted by:
CADDY-V
mayer:
That video was funny. So great cars too. I guess we will see in a few years if it all works out.
05/19, 11:14 PM
posted by:
MikLawry
I am new here, but I have to say that Jake66 is correct, Ford licensed Toyota’s Hybrid patent to develop their own. I have attached a link below. Sorry Ford fans, I just want to put the facts out there.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB107880303676250060.html
Oh yea, I am an US automaker fan.
05/19, 11:34 PM
posted by:
jdasch1
MikLawry- And your not entirely correct. Ford is using one of many patented PROCESSES from Toyota. Some of the engine/tranny/electrical patents are from Volvo (they now own, but got when they bought Volvo) and their own patented processes. Its a good thing for Toyota, because it opens up the “patent trading” window for them with Ford. This is good because when Ford comes up with something great, they have the most patents, Toyota can get some for their own use. Just because Toyota builds a great hybrid, doesn’t mean everybody that wants them (a hybrid) will buy a Toyota…they want a Hybrid, and a Ford Escape Hybrid is a different package that they can turn to. But saying that the Escape hybrid would not exist or really is a Toyota without Toyota’s system is a stretch. There is no ONE “Hybrid patent” .
05/20, 7:51 AM
posted by:
MercMark
Ford just licensed the toy-ota hybrid software because it was cheaper than developing their own and then having the toy-ota lawyers start up the litigation machine.
05/20, 9:37 AM
posted by:
Honda Guy
I still wouldn’t vote for him…
Nor would I buy a Ford.
Give me Ron Paul and his 1976 Chevette over this trillion dollar mistake.
05/20, 9:47 AM
posted by:
Bankruptcy2009
I did’nt vote for him but I am glad he bought as Escape Hybrid to at least set at an example for being environmentally responsible. And I would almost like to see the Executive Limo he’s driven in be a Hybrid too!
05/20, 9:52 AM
posted by:
Borat
I thought that this presidents plugs the first lady occasionally.
05/20, 10:14 AM
posted by:
MikLawry
@Jdasch1
Thx for the info, I didn’t realize that there were a number of hybrid tyechnologies and patents that Ford was implementing into their hybrid system. I guess we do learn something new everyday
05/20, 10:26 AM
posted by:
Eudaemonic
“Ford CEO Alana Mulally was happy to hear…” That’s how he managed to keep Ford form drowning: black wig, leather skirt and heels, on a street corner in Detroit.
05/20, 11:56 AM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
Regardless of the fact of what part of Ford’s hybrid technologies came from the Toy. Still the fact is that President Obama supports the Detroit 3, he may have been bias to Ford, but can you balm him?
Ford is the only one of the Detroit 3 to be standing on it’s own 2 feet….
05/20, 12:41 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
@ Borat, that was classic.
05/20, 12:44 PM
posted by:
Borat
Just a though on presidency, beatusmongous
05/20, 12:48 PM
posted by:
gizmo2
Ford did licence aspects of Toyota Hybrid system, but it was in exchange for Toyota tapping into Ford’s diesel technology – check Wikipedia. However Fords new hybrid in the Fusion uses different software system developed by Ford. The mechanics may still look the same but way different. Toyota would love that technology to compete with their Camry.
05/20, 2:29 PM
posted by:
Borat
gizmo, Toyota’s 1.6L diesel power Mini. FIAT’s 1.3L diesel power Ford. What Toyota could learn from Ford about diesel? They’ve been building diesels for Asian, African and European markets since 50’s.
05/20, 2:37 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
Inappropriate comment — kinda like a parent disclosing who his favorite child is.
05/20, 2:45 PM
posted by:
Dwide Schrude
Better than a parent who lies to thier children.
05/20, 2:54 PM
posted by:
gizmo2
Borat yes that’s true but they are not big on new clean diesel technology “Common Rail Diesel tech” The European rule in that arena. The 1.3 was developed as a joint venture. Remember Ford Europe is big on diesel tech, Even though I would agree that VW rule in that arena.
05/20, 5:43 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
NO. Ford only uses Toyota patented systems because the system they were developing was nearly identical. You can read that almost anywhere, including on Toyota’s website. In truth Ford did borrow about 5% of their overall hybrid design from Toyota once they learned they couldn’t patent their own due to it being nearly identical, and NO they did not disassemble a Toyota system and copy it. So in turn, they’re nearly the same aside from programming, the powertrains used and a few minor parts.