U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno has a certain type of vehicle in mind as consumers and the auto industry grapple with concerns about affordability.
“I would love to see many more Honda Civics, which is a car that’s under $25,000,” Moreno said Jan. 15 during a “fireside chat” on the second day of the Detroit Auto Show. Honda does advertise a Civic starting at under $25,000, although more expensive trims are also offered.
Moreno, a Republican from Ohio whose state includes a large Honda auto plant in Marysville, offered a challenge to the rest of the industry.
“Honda does it. Toyota is close to doing it. Others can join,” said Moreno, whose comments were prerecorded and aired as part of a discussion with John Bozzella, president and CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation. Bozzella, whose group advocates on behalf of automakers, was present on stage with moderator Chrissy Taylor, senior vice president of editorial for Automotive News.
Moreno, a former car dealer who has touted his close ties to President Donald Trump , ticked off several ways he sees the government helping in the affordability fight, from tort reform to cutting “fraud” to streamlining regulations.
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Affordability has long been a concern among many consumers, but Bozzella noted that consumers have many options as evidenced by what’s on display on the Detroit Auto Show floor. He described getting into and out of many vehicles during his visit to the show, saying that he’d seen a lot of cars that were less than $30,000.
And he defended the industry’s approach.
“We respond to what consumers want and need,” he said.
Although affordability was a key issue it wasn’t the only one during an approximately 40-minute session on Thursday that was disrupted at times by squealing tires from demonstration vehicles in the hall and some technical issues.
Concerns about Chinese competition and national security and maintaining a healthy auto market, described as resilient but one that thrives best with policy certainty, were also discussed. Moreno asserted that China’s auto industry isn’t designed for domestic consumption but to essentially undercut the industry in the West.
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Trade was also a point of discussion, particularly upcoming talks on the future of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Moreno said the top priority is more final assembly in the United States, but that it’s important to get to an agreement passed by Congress. Chasing less expensive labor is not a proper business proposition, he indicated.
Bozzella noted, however, that the three countries have been highly integrated for a quarter century, which has allowed for consumer choice and for the United States to compete globally.
Eric D. Lawrence is the senior car culture reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Send your tips and suggestions about cool automotive stuff to elawrence@freepress.com . Become a subscriber . Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno touts Honda Civic in Detroit Auto Show chat
