GM CEO Mary Barra shows Vice President Joe Biden the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Joe Biden heralded the U.S. auto industry’s recent success as the pay off on a bet made by two presidential administrations during a speech at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
“We bet on American ingenuity, we bet on you and we won,” Biden said. “How could we possibly walk away from the iconic industry of America?”
During the speech Biden noted that by the collective actions of the Obama Administration, automakers and their workers saved the industry that accounts for more than 4% of the company’s gross domestic product. Biden lauded the makers for their vehicles.
Chairman Bill Ford shows off the 2015 Ford F-150 to Vice President Joe Biden at the Detroit Auto Show.
“You’re producing the best product in the world,” he said. “And you’re just getting started. Thank you again for making America the automotive capital of the world.”
Afterward, Biden – an admitted “car guy” who owns a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette courtesy of his father who was a car salesman – toured the show floor stopping for an extended period of time at each of the Detroit Three automakers exhibit.
While at the Ford checked out the F-150 and the Mustang GT and spoke with company executive Chairman Bill Ford. Biden also toured the Chrysler booth talking with Fiat/Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne while looking over Chrysler 200 and Jeep Cherokee before settling in at the General Motors display.
Telling reporters he was like “a kid in a candy store,” he met with GM CEO Mary Barra who showed him the Chevy Silverado as well as the Corvette Stingray and the Corvette Z06.
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He chatted with Chrysler and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne and looked at the Chrysler Cherokee and the Chrysler 200, before moving to the Ford stand, where he talked with executive Chairman Bill Ford and examined the Mustang GT and the Ford F-150. Then, he met incoming GM CEO Mary Barra, where he poured over the Chevy Silverado, the Corvette Stingray and the Corvette Z06.
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He joked that the Stingray was “just like” the 1967 one he has at home. “I’ll tell you what; technology matters.”
Biden came to the show after arriving in Detroit the night before and meeting with the recently elected mayor, Mike Duggan, for dinner. The pair discussed the status of Detroit and how the federal government can help the city going forward.