The US auto industry fought air bags for about two decades, saying they were too expensive and that people did not want them:  <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.csmonitor.com&#x2F;1988&#x2F;0519&#x2F;abelt.html" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.csmonitor.com&#x2F;1988&#x2F;0519&#x2F;abelt.html</a><p>&quot;Top Ford Motor Company executives went so far as to arrange a meeting with President Nixon to plead against a federal regulation that would have required air bags in all cars, starting with 1973 models. The meeting had the desired effect: Mr. Nixon ordered the regulation quashed.  Eleven years after the 1971 meeting, a transcript from secret Oval Office tapes disclosed the conversation.&quot;<p>I believe the Toronado air bags might have been offered just to provide a tool to say consumers did not want them.<p>Earlier on, they also fought seat belts.  Then later, they fought <i>for</i> state laws mandating seat belt use by drivers, just so they could say the airbags were not necessary in the presence of seat belts.  And a bunch of other stuff.  Classic cartel behavior.