Biden tells Ohio auto workers industry will thrive

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden said today that U.S. automakers will thrive in the coming years despite the economic challenges still facing the industry.

Addressing auto workers, Biden painted a rosy picture of an industry that only a year ago was facing questions about whether it could survive and still is struggling to sell cars and other vehicles.

"Don't believe those who will say this temporary," Biden said at a Chrysler assembly plant less than a week after General Motors announced plans to return to the stock market this year.

During a tour of the plant, Biden said he was pleased that GM plans to return to the stock market some time this year. But he was less confident that the government will end its ownership of the automaker any time soon.

"I don't know if we can totally get out of GM," he said when asked whether the government would be able to get rid of its stake of GM this year.