A boss from one of the world’s biggest carmakers has slammed the global warming argument as “a total crock of ****.”
The Vice Chairman of General Motors (which owns Vauxhall), Bob Lutz, made the sensational comments to journalists in Texas, and has since refused to back down, despite facing criticism.
Mr Lutz continued by saying: “It’s my job to do what makes the most business sense for GM.
“My thoughts on what has or hasn’t been the cause of climate change have nothing to do with the decisions I make to advance the cause of General Motors.
“My opinions on the subject are immaterial. The point is not why and how did we get where we are, it’s what are we going to do to get where we’re going.”
When we last wrote about the 2008 Budget, we had lots of comments expressing doubts about climate change.
Do you share his scepticism about global warming? Should carmakers be trying to cut emissions?
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Even if humans are causing climate change, it will be industry, airliners and boats that are to blame… the pollution caused by cars by comparison is not worth worrying about; it’s simply the case that the government sees motorists as an easy taxation target. Don’t be taken-in by the lefty Guardian reading bean chompers either Tim!
Wobbletastic
I wonder if you have any evidence for your statements?
Global warming is a fact, and the evidence that it is man made is compelling.
If its wrong and the worst thing that happens is that we stop waisting so much, thats good for everyone anyway.
Man needs to learn that we are not seperate to the forces of nature, we will eventually destroy ourselves if we don’t control ourselves.
The higher ‘green’ taxes sounds like an excuse to impose them, hiding behind the environmental facade. I do concede there are some tax concessions for lower CO2 emitting cars, but these concessions will probably go the way of the unleaded/leaded petrol.
Instead of slapping on taxes which doesn’t improve efficiency (just deters) positive steps need to be taken from all levels.
The tax on fuel is killing the nation, adding to inflationary pressures, increasing costs all round, this mixed in with the global credit crunch and correction in the housing market is a receipe for a recessionary climate.
Intelligent traffic lights that allow cars to pass unimpeded if the coast is clear, banning slow moving vehicles and road works during rush hour and staggering school and work start and finish times all would go a long way to reduce traffic jams and CO2 emissions.
If GM aren’t concerned about CO2 emissions and want to continue to build thirsty vehicles they will just lose custom to companies who make lean machines like Toyota, Volkswagen and BMW.
Maybe Ford sold off Land Rover and Jaguar because the cars are CO2 ‘unmanageble’.
Although I may not totally buy the global warming excuse issue, I do appreciate a car that can do 50 MPG versus one that only does 28 MPG purely from the fuel cost.
If BMW can produce a sports car that does 0-60 in 7 something seconds with 55MPG combined then GM are technically challanged. A typical American car that offers that performance would probably be in the region of 25MPG with minimum 6 cylinders.
Anyway, I can’t think of any car I would like to buy in the GM range, so it doesn’t matter if they do or don’t. For me it’s a BMW, VW or Mercedes 55MPG car, I can’t argue with the fuel pump.
I share Bob Lutz sentiments. Global warming is a sham created by governments in the hope of instilling a sense of panic into the worlds population… first by getting eco-nuts on side and them spreading the feeling into the general population through manipulation of the media, so that we can be subjected to higher taxes in the hope that anyone who speaks out about it will be labelled as politically incorrect and generally uncaring. When in fact people who speak out are simply being realistic. The Earths climate is constantly fluctuating; I wouldn’t be surprised in a few thousand years if the potential highest tax paying groups are being blamed for global cooling as we head into the next ice age.