Americans Still Attracted by Gaz Guzzlers

In spite of the economic recession that brought the United States auto industry on the verge of collapse, Americans are still attracted by high-displacement engines, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said. Some people would consider this quite awkward and inappropriate as the global market is slowly migrating towards small-displacements engine, more environmentally friendly and fuel efficient cars. But GM has nothing else to do than to comply with buyers' demand.

As a result, the American manufacturer boosted production of pickup trucks and SUV in the United States as inventories are very low, Lutz was quoted as saying by drive.com.au.

"It remains a fact that the American public buys big, high-consumption cars," he said. "It is completely wrong to hope that Americans will massively rush to economical vehicles. The mass movement towards 'green cars' is only taking place in the media."

General Motors closely worked with the US authorities on the new fuel efficiency regulation, Lutz said, but the company thinks meeting the emissions standard by 2015 has become a challenge.

"The government faces a dilemma. It wants on the one hand to bring pump prices closer to European levels and therefore introduce more economical cars. On the other hand the economy is so fragile that a renewed sudden surge in gasoline prices would have a devastating impact," Lutz added.

General Motors is one of the companies that benefited the most from the US Car Allowance Rebate System, getting the largest share of all carmakers participating to the scheme. The Detroit Three accounted for around 45 percent of all sales through the program, government sources revealed.