Big Three CEOs Drive Hybrids To Washington (VIDEO)

CNBC's "Power Lunch" created a funny animation of the Big Three CEOs -- Alan Mulally of Ford, Rick Wagoner of GM and Robert Nardelli of Chrysler -- driving to Washington, D.C., where they're asking for federal funds.

The CEOs are driving hybrid cars after being reamed by the media for flying flashy corporate jets to plead their cases as struggling companies in need of government help.

The "Power Lunch" team are also offering joke suggestions of interesting sights for the CEOs to see along the way.

Watch the video and tell us in the comments section what you think about these CEOs driving nine hours to Washington. Here are some questions to ponder. We'll be closing comments Thursday at 1pm eastern. The most thoughtful answers will be posted in a new entry.

Is this a good use of CEOs' time during a financial crisis?

Do you think driving sends a good message to taxpayers that Detroit is willing to make big changes?

Do you think this is all a wasteful publicity stunt?

WATCH:

Comments

[CindyKay]

It was just a PR Stunt .

If they were Really Serious about Conserving Energy or Not Wasting Money then they would All Agree to Forfiet Their Performance Pay for the Next 5 Years. I know that they said they would only take a $1.00 a Year as pay but does Everyone Realize that these Jerks are each taking in an extra 19 Million Yearly in Performance Pay each ?????

Think about it , These People are Making 19 Million apiece Yearly in Performance Pay & Their Company Is FAILING. Shouldn't they be Forced to Pay it All Back To The Company That They Have Destroyed ?

[BillMelater]

Geez they get clobbered for flying, then they get clobbered for driving hybrids. What were they supposed to do? Walk?

As for that 16 lb hamburger. If I remember correctly, if you can eat the whole thing in one sitting, then it is free. LOL - I wonder if the gastro-intestinal colesteral surge is worth it? I can't imagine anyone eating that much in one sitting. Whew.

[jalowe1957]

As always, more that a day late and billions of dollars short.

[plooger]

They really couldn't bring themselves to fly coach, could they? And any chance they car-pooled?

Hell, it probably would have been sufficient for them to share a single private plane.

[betz55]

WHOAH ! Back up here a moment. Didn't we just hear a while back that if the banking system didn't get our money we would have an economic meltdown ? Now we're being told that if we don't bailout the deaf, dumb, and blind american auto industry it will lead to an economic meltdown? AGAIN ? Let the oil companies bail out these car companies that keep pushing SUV's and bigger and bigger trucks down our throats !!! They have had years to get it together, remember when we bailed them out in the 90's ? Make a decent product- you're just a business like any other......poor quality & performance for decades.
Ford makes well designed European models , how hard is it move a factory?
LET THEM FAIL...LET THEM FAIL....LET THEM FAIL....LET THEM FAIL....LET THEM FAIL....!

[JimboSlice]

Seems like CNBC mocking the way the "rest" of us live. The normal people who want to go from Detroit to DC would probably drive.

[emuchick]

Actually, I was hoping they would ride bicycles.

http://sarah-palin-2012.blogspot.com

[munki]

Great... I bet they never test driven their own cars...
Enjoy the drive! See the world away from luxurious lifestyle...

[JBS]

So, here's a question ... If they're really serious about saving money, why didn't they carpool?

Or get William Shatner to negotiate some coach class tickets for 'em on priceline.com?

[Myshkin57]

I was thinking the same thing. But then, i'm betting the GM guy wouldn't want to show up in a Ford.

Though this does bring up the point that carpooling to and from work is much cheaper and less wasteful in most cases than having even the most fuel-efficient automobile. Carpooling two people in a 35 mpg car is the same as each one of those people driving their own 70 mpg car, assuming the same distance traveled.

[aussiebrasil]

If the chrysler CEO had been driving an EV1, I would have been impressed! Oh that's right they crushed them all. Now they want the government to bail them out? If the Government does bail them out for the sake of the country, and the thousands of auto industry workers then the current CEO'S must be sacked. They have failed. Perhaps give them a job building batteries for the new electric cars?

[Viper]

The EV1 was by GM. Toyota and Nissan also participated in the suits that killed the electric car. The car cost 80K to make and was leased out on a cost bases of 40K... It sat two.


Regards

[Carolab]

It doesn't benefit Hank Greenberg.

[thefooligan5]

pandering. what else is new.

[baghdadjoe]

Detroit automakers are no different from other businesses that have failed under the burden of bad management over the long term. The cure is Chapter 11 and restructuring - and there is no other cure.

With GM alone burning over $5 billion a month just to continue their operations, bankruptcy is not only an alternative - it is vital. These companies cannot continue to operate without restructuring.

[bioluminescence]

Agree. Bankruptcy in this case will be therapeutic. Consolidation of domestic auto production.

[AKJM]

Disagree. Detroit is asking for a fraction of the monies spent sheltering Wall ST speculators and usury parasites.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

It would have been more apropos if they had driven there in a Hummer, a Lincoln Navigator, and anything with a Hemi.

[Myshkin57]

Or they could have had a vehicle that's a new combo of all three. It would have been the turducken of automobiles. Not only that, but it would be a fitting monument to the U.S. auto industry.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

So you're a CEO and you get caught in bed with your mistress by your wife.

Giving your wife the roses you bought for the mistress ain't gonna cut it.

Don't ask me why, but that was what sprang to mind.

And yes, I'm on the right string.

[protagonia]

Agreed.