[Doohickey]

The can’t compete on price. Economy cars have low profit margins. Assuming that GM can achieve parity on options, build quality and reliability, what’s left for consumers to base buying decisions on? Styling maybe. Price, definately.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

A lot of this has to do with CAFE, put in since Jimmah Cahtah's days. Its cost GM millions in profits on bigger cars and prevented them from exploiting their best brand; Cadillac.
If I were at GM and faced with this predicament, I would have the engineers design a light, tube frame Caddy with aluminum skin and a smaller version of the Northstar engine. This is not rocket science.
Why does every American car have to weigh 2 or 2 1/2 tons ?

[TomasUSMC]

The “little three” don’t mind opening plants in India, maybe India can give ‘em a bailout.

[gogogodzilla]

Volkswagen, which has just as strong of a union issue and the Big 3, competes by offering a higher quality interior and better performance.

Perhaps the Big 3 ought to think of the ‘best value’ situation instead of the ‘lowest cost’ one.