Can't say I disagree with this idea that it's CAFE or similar...OR taxes and fees that support the new structure with electrics/hybrid/hydrogen. For every person that whines about CAFE, they'll be screaming when electrics become the norm and what needs to happen to support roads and transportation infrastructure.
If your state has a percentage of their gas tax component that isn't even auditable, get ready when that scenario becomes even more confused with infrastructure fees and taxes that seem to generate from all corners.
The concept that many Americans base their vehicle purchases on the price of gas would tell me the intellect level involved with understanding that whatever you feel about CAFE standards, FCA was bailed out in the downturn, made subsequent poor decisions including the dropping of their higher mileage vehicles, and ( independent of Obama vs. current standards ) have a PR person that says that CAFE needs to be aligned to American tastes...evidently based on V10 lift kit trucks.
If FCA frames this fine as being penalized for a "bad decision" then you can argue about how much of that's about short term gain versus long term investment...along with their expectation of another bailout should they need it for more bad decisions and/or market climates that make them an irrelevant vehicle maker. In FCA's case. you can make an argument that they didn't learn and are possibly too small to "learn" versus GM and Ford.
If your state has a percentage of their gas tax component that isn't even auditable, get ready when that scenario becomes even more confused with infrastructure fees and taxes that seem to generate from all corners.
The concept that many Americans base their vehicle purchases on the price of gas would tell me the intellect level involved with understanding that whatever you feel about CAFE standards, FCA was bailed out in the downturn, made subsequent poor decisions including the dropping of their higher mileage vehicles, and ( independent of Obama vs. current standards ) have a PR person that says that CAFE needs to be aligned to American tastes...evidently based on V10 lift kit trucks.
If FCA frames this fine as being penalized for a "bad decision" then you can argue about how much of that's about short term gain versus long term investment...along with their expectation of another bailout should they need it for more bad decisions and/or market climates that make them an irrelevant vehicle maker. In FCA's case. you can make an argument that they didn't learn and are possibly too small to "learn" versus GM and Ford.