Everyone has to understand (I think most Contributors in this thread do) that: 1. Associating Patriotism and traditional "Buy American" (and Canadian because, let's face it, Americans and Canadians are more alike - not the same, just more alike - than any other two nationalities ... maybe the Aussies) sentiments is much harder to do in a global economy and where the companies involved are really multi-national companies. Domestic car makers move to Third-world nations just like foreign car makers do and are criticized for and there are NO MORE 100% DOMESTICALLY SOURCED & BUILT CARS; 2. There is NO SINGLE magic solution to the problems in Detroit - these problems developed over a long time - corporate mismanagement and union demands - all the wile American industry flatly rejected Arthur Deming - the father of modern JIT (Just-In-Time) ultra-efficient manufacturing processes and Continual Quality Improvement (The Japanese totally embraced his philosophy following WWII and after Detroit rejected him; he is considered the father of Japanese modern manufacturing - an American export, geez); 3. A foreign car manufacturer that actually invests 100's of millions of dollars by building plants over here and employs 1000's of people over here is not the same as a purely foreign manufacturer and deserves some respect for the investment made; and 4. Nobody should be criticized for waiving an American (or Canadian) flag and trying to persuade others to consider domestic cars - God bless 'em even if the views aren't politically correct or worthy of a Nobel prize in global economics. Take a look at this video ... there is a lot of work to do in restructuring the domestic auto industry ... and a lot of resistance here at home to the process. CLICK HERE ===> http://info.detnews.com/video/index.cfm?id=1189 In a modern global economy, we should all realize that the ultimate economic prize is to keep as much benefit of the economic multiplier effect as possible here domestically, regardless of what the name on the final product is. On a very positive note, consider what it will mean if the Big Three can get their houses in order and successfully compete here ... look out world. One of the best kept secrets is the closing of some factories in China because labor costs are rising there. Go figure! Companies moving labor-intensive operations to Vietnam and Malaysia, etc. Take that, China. What goes around, comes around. There is just no way to eliminate all the cheap labor around the world, but the cost of transporting cars from China and Vietnam costs a lot more than shipping small, light-weight electronics, i.e., transportation costs are expensive from that distance. What's coming? CEO's and their compensation packages are going to be under enormous pressure to be reduced and ... a major Union battle over many issues like factory automation and benefits. Sorry. I am convinced that the Big 3's strategy for dealing with the Unions and manufacturing automation improvements has been predicated on reductions in Unionized workforce by attrition ... over a generation or two. This emergency should green-light that confrontation with the Unions ... look at the above video and you will see why.
Show me a true US sourced and built vehicle, and I will buy it.. But they simply don't exist anymore. Sorry guys, but it's not 1970 anymore.. This whole discussion is based on a false premise. The big three source just as many, if not more parts from out if this country, than the Japanese auto makers building cars here do. Same folks building them, so that's a moot point. Same folks delivering, selling and servicing them.-- another moot point. The only difference I see these days is that the big fat cats in the union and in the corporate managment of the Big 3 will no longer will be able to buy that second home in FLA... Oh... too bad... :boring: As far as I am concerned, if the Govt get's involved with the big 3, they should take the pensions off their books, and then kick them out the door.. I think previous employee's should not have to pay for the current ills. Then they can sink or swim.. it's called capitalism boys, and that's how it works. JW
(I haven't read this whole thread) But GM, Ford, and Chrysler should all merge together and call themselves American Motors! wouldn't that be comical:grin: :grin: :grin:
So what you are saying is it would be better to let an American company go under than a foriegn company?????????? Wow:shock: No thanks I will keep my loyalty with American built cars with American names and American owners. Bob H.
Bob - I work in the automotive group of my company. I have been envolved with parts that are resourced to Asia because Ford, GM and Chrysler have demanded it as a result of wanting to build cars in China. The Chinese government wanted each auto company who desired to penetrate the Chinese maker to make components there. They than bring these components back to the US instead of using US components on vehicles here. I have no respect for a company that has forced its suppliers to make parts in China to keep the business. I also have no respect for a company that wants the taxpayers to bail them out after they have caused hundred of thousands of American jobs to be lost because of their own purchasing practices. That is like firing someone and than asking them for loan in the parking lot as they leave your company. On the other hand we have tooled parts in the US for Toyota, Honda and BMW. We have shown them that tooling it here for capacity reasons was a better option and they agreed to it. If you work in the industry and work closely with the car makers you have a better understanding of what they are telling suppliers behind the scenes. You have an opinion and are free to have it. I have mine and mine is based off of experience selling and making parts for the automotive industry. I will support American workers. I will not blindly support American based companies with policies that are anti-America worker.
What gets me is these armchair automotive experts in the media (that probably drive foreign) that are merely journalists. I responded to one who was making blanket statements like: US manufacturers are way behind the Japanese in Hybrid technology. What just because Toyota sold a bunch of Priuses??? What about Honda and Nissan, where are their Hybrids? GM and Ford has all sorts of Hybrid vehicles available right now. So does Ford. Ford pioneered Flexfuel (E85) cars as well as propane fleet vehicles. Or that US Big 3 had/have no cars that get good mpg and make guzzler SUVs and that's why they are in trouble. My sister's Lexus SUV (2006) has never gotten better than 15 mpg. My 1997 ext cab 305 pickup is rated 21 mpg hwy. My 98 Regal gets 30 mpg hwy with 220,000 miles on it. GM had the Chevette in the late 70s that got 30-35 mpg gas and 45-50 mpg in diesel form. In the 80s they had the Fiero with 4 cyl and 5 spd 40 mpg.
No, I think he is just saying don't bail anyone out and let the capitalism cream float to the top like it has been working for the past 200 years. That's what made us so successful. It is a self-weeding situation. The corporations that are soundly managed with good products will prevail. This is a GOOD thing, not a bad thing. Some fail, some don't. Some people just will not understand this even if you explained it all year long 24 hours a day.
True story and right on the money. They are still advertising ( Toyota, Nissan, etc.) that there cars are getting 30 plus MPG. Big deal my 99 Regal and my 98 LaSabre get 30 mpg also and thats with high mileage. I still believe the union demands are a lot of the problem here. Not only at the big 3 factories but also their parts makers. Which is why they have to go to the off shore mfg for their parts. The local companies can't compete. A level playing field and less big money for the CEO's would really help our local companies. Bob H. Bob H.
Ken part of what you say is true. But even well managed corporations have a problem when they are strapped with the huge demands brought on by the unions. Toyota, BMW, and whoever else come along and start building their cars without the big overhead and the big three are screwed. And there local suppliers have the same problem. Because of their overhead they can't compete either. I agree that the big three are top heavy and the high dollar CEO's have got to go but something needs to be done to level the playing field. I don't really like the idea of a bail out either but if they are allowed to go bankrupt it could bring down a lot of their creditors.I Don't knowo No: like everybody else on here I"m no expert. Bob H.
I dont believe that the "U.S automakers" are in poor financial shape because their cars are worse than the "Imported" cars. The problem is that any company needs to have financial reserves in the bank to withstand rough times that inevitably come with an economic downturn. Those financial reserves have been raided by greedy unions and greedy executives. Now they fail. The managment and the unions were short sighted and thought that the good times would continue for ever, now they want us to bail them out. I say let them sink or swim.
