The LA Times reported an interesting story today where despite all the bailout money the US Taxpayers have given them, automakers don’t understand what we really want.

GM, Chrysler don’t get it – Los Angeles Times

After receiving billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded bailouts over the last few months, General Motors and Chrysler returned to Washington on Tuesday to shake their chrome-plated tin cups again.

In addition to begging for billions more in bailout funds, the automakers presented the Treasury Department with plans for how they will repay — eventually — their taxpayer-funded bailouts and get back on their feet.

Americans need cars that go farther on a gallon of gasoline, pollute less and save money at the pump.

Even if we give them more money — and we will — automakers need to embrace the will of the people.  If automakers meet California’s clean law to reduce polluting hydrocarbons, we will see more efficient automobiles that will withstand future gas price increases.

But this takes time.  It takes many years to develop a test a new car.  It’s something that is not done over night. America is to impatient to wait until 2015 for these cars.  The question you have to ask, will American automakers still be around by then?