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Automotive News & Views Does America Even Need Its Own Automakers?
1788 messages, Last post on Mar 03, 2009 at 2:18 PM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
are related to our domestic auto industry. Can we aford to lose that? I too have many issues with the prolonged mismanagement of our Big Three. I bought many of those issues in the past. (Can you say Mustang II, EXP and Tempo to keep the list short?) But this old coot's concern for his own welfare (not to mention the millions of folks who would lose their means of financial support) gives him more than just a bit of pause. Do we need our own auto makers? As much as we need any similarly sized sector of our economy, I would argue. The government should help these folks through hard times. In the process we have a unique opportunity to reshape the industries priorities and push them to adopt change that will accelerate their adaptation to a post peak oil world. This is my own personal view, and of course could or could not be accurate, since my perspective is that of a mere consumer of the product of this industry.
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Replying to: lemko (Nov 14, 2008 4:25 pm) Of course comparing an Aveo to a Lexus or BMW is hardly fair but....you have to admit, American cars have been losing market share year after year after year. Given that cold hard fact, which is sad to say not refutable, are we then to assume: a. foreign car buyers are all stupid. b. American cars are increasingly non-competitive. c. the reason for the loss of market share is a mystery unknown to us. |
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 14, 2008 4:31 pm) We have to be real here. The additional bailout cash is not going to solve this problem. A complete overhaul of the industry is the only way and there is no time for evolution. It's TIME for revolution and it will all be better off when the smoke clears. You only support the value-added products that sell for a profit. So now, costs need to be drastically reduced. Use the money to close down at least 50% of the operations. Regards, OW |
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Replying to: circlew (Nov 14, 2008 6:01 pm) |
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 14, 2008 4:31 pm) Open mouth, insert foot.
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Replying to: cooterbfd (Nov 14, 2008 6:07 pm) Sometimes I think these writers really have a love/hate thing goingx and that leads to this contradictory reasoning. It's like when you find your high school hero is really a stoner or something. The disappointment when an exalted figure in your mind stumbles and falters can lead to real anger. I know that sounds pop-psyche but you know what I mean, right? You see this in sports all the time, the once-hero now despised. If they didn't care, they wouldn't scream so loudly. |
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Replying to: circlew (Nov 14, 2008 6:01 pm) As for cost disadvantages, I'm not sure what all is driving the difference, but Detroit overhead is not competitive these days. UAW work rules may be part of it, but management largess may be as well. The real issue is that many people, and their kids as they grow up, remember all of the bad products and problems, so they are no longer sympathetic and are gravitating away from GM, Ford and Chrysler even as the products may be improving. I don't know how fixable this problem is, but you are right it will take time if it can even be fixed. Personally, I hope Detroit can turn it around, but I'm reluctant to return to their products based on too many bad experiences over the years. It will take a lot of proof over a period of time, not just some good initial quality surveys to get me back.
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Replying to: berri (Nov 14, 2008 6:36 pm) Dead men tell no tales! I wonder if it's something like "critical mass", that the number of HAPPY Big Three owners (and there are surely a good number) have to actually outweigh the unhappy ones, or at least "out-shout" them.
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 14, 2008 6:58 pm) You can count me among the extremely happy Big Three owners! 
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Replying to: keepinon (Nov 14, 2008 4:30 pm) I could be convinced to provide some big loans if we really require the necessary reshaping: 1. Get rid of Wagoner and his direct reports. 2. Break the work rules and union contracts to allow for a more flexible industry. 3. Dump 50% of the models they make - they can pick them. Anything less..... they should just fail without a bailout. And we're primarily talking about GM here. |
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