
Washington (CNN) - As President Barack Obama's oldest daughter, Malia, approaches driving age, the president has his own vision for her first car.
"I am hoping to see one of those models that gets a top speed of 15 miles per hour and the ejector seat any time boys are in the car," Obama told auto industry leaders Friday in a speech about fuel efficiency standards. "So hopefully you guys have some of those in the pipeline."
The joke came while announcing a new proposal aimed to improve standards in certain automobiles made in 2017-2025. Under the plan, the fuel economy in cars and light-duty trucks would increase to an average of 54.5 miles per gallon, nearly double the current figure.
Obama unveiled the program at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C Friday.
Malia, who turned 13 on July 4, is still years away from the minimum age of 16 required for a learner's permit in Washington, D.C.
- CNN's Peter Valdes-Dapena contributed to this report.


I hope that he buys her a FORD.
Glad he finds time to make humor, while the country goes down the tubes.
No big decision here Obama. Put her in one of those Smart Cars. A single person rolling coffin powered by a lawnmower engine. She'll get great mileage until she is crushed by somebody texting in an SUV. But that is the future you want to force on the country with your ridiculous mileage targets. You and your family need to "share the burden" of your own stupidity.
Outrageous! I am SO offended!
Don't you think 15 mph is a bit ... fast?
We ALREADY get 50 mpg with the Prius and a few other models. That fuel standard is just the absolute minimum. It's really not rocket science. You need to reduce demand...as in cut our consumption in half to keep the gas prices lowers and extend the supply of oil. However the real issue is emerging economies of gigantic nations like India and China that have waaaay too many people – almost 2 billion that will be polluting our air and driving up worldwide demand – which the U.S. can't really control.
50 mpg is nothing...we already to that today. We really should be doing 100 mpg in 20 years. But the dumbed-down corporatist media is trying to indoctrinate people into being suckers and using gas-guzzler hogs.
Rocky, you need to check with Fisher-Price to see if they can add that seat one of their battery operated cars.
Hey, GOPers. This debt ceiling fiasco is your last chance to drag Obama down to the point of no return. Make sure you get it right, OK? Been the goal all along, hasn't it? Otherwise, it's smooth sailing for him from now until November 2012. Imagine the outcome if Obama had first gone to Congess for *permission* to go after Bin Laden. My goodness ... Congress would still be debating the issue today of was Bin Laden or wasn't Bin Laden actually where he was finally found, and ol' Osama would still be holed up in his Pakastani hidey-hole, clicking away at that T.V. remote of his.
Let her ride the bus, or walk, like most of America will have to do, because of high gas prices, unemployment, and dwindling incomes ... all, thanks to her corrupt, inept, self-serving father, Barack.
So, are we going to have to look at that idiot Palin all weekend? This private citizen is bought a paid for by Faux, I
don't watch Faux, would appreciate the break from her. I know where to find her, and I am not looking. Please!
That is hilarious. Good one Mr. President.
Hopefully young Malia will be living with her parents in Chicago or Hawaii or Kenya, but not Washington D.C., when she turns 16 and is old enough to apply for her learner's permit.
I empathize. Although, there is an alternative. When my little girl – literally because she physiclally a very small person – broke a brick and passed the test for her secon dan (black belt) in Tae Kwon Do, at the age lf 15, my first comment was: Now she can date.
What a beautiful child!
The average price of regular unleaded in my area (Dallas, TX) is $3.69. The fuel standards need to be increased now!
Why are all of his funny family comments linked directly to his ideology and policies? He seems like more of a political puppet than human. Glad he can use his kids as political props.
Hopefully something with no seat belts, no headlights and full of sharp objects. We need to stop the Obama genes from spreading into the population.
To all you haters who are going to post something negative. This is just a great human interest story that every parent of a daughter wishes for theirs.
OBAMA 2012!
My fellow conservatives. There is no need to make negative comments here. This is simply a father taking about his daughter who is growing up. Surely many of you can put politics aside and relate to that.
Gee, I actually agree with Obama for once–my daughter is getting her learner's permit in ten days. (9 days, 18 hours, and 37 minutes, if she gets her way–the moment the license office opens on the morning of her fifteenth birthday.)
As to the 54MPG idiocy, the federal government has no Constitutional power to impose that requirement.
you are funny, Mr. President.
It is so terrific to see a real family in the White House. It's obvious that the President and the First Lady are doing what they can to give their daughters as normal a life as can be had in their circumstances, and are instilling them with strong family values. They are wonderful role models for the country.
well..at least he is concentrating on the important stuff.....not this pesky economy and unemployment