Well, I just can't keep my mouth shut on this one.
...I love American cars, any brand, I don't care. I've had many cars (and M/C's), both domestic and foreign. There's nothing wrong with foreign cars, but nothing is like an American car in personality, style, and feel.
The problem is corporate greed. GM makes more money by it's global partnerships than they do here. GM owns a large share of Toyota, and Toyota, likewise owns a large share of GM. They operate a man.facility in Northern Calif, formerly a GM plant-called NUMMI (New United Motor Manufacturing).
So who's interest is GM serving? It's shareholders? Not really. They are SELF serving.
And they aren't alone. Chrysler did the same thing, trying to out GM, GM. Look at where it got them.
Somewhere in the mid to late 70's, American automakers gave up. They were convinced they couldn't compete with foriegn brands, especially the Japanese. What a cop out.
They thought, and still do, quantity is the way to re-build their business, so they crank out huge numbers of cars. Then they said hey look, we're still the 1 in sales! Yeah, of junk cars. Meanwhile, Honda, Toyota, and toher foreign brands ate their lunch, and still are.
We've lost our identity. We've lost our heritage. Go to Stuttgart to Diamler's hq. Know what you see on the rotunda showroom floor? One of the 2 of Richard petty's last # 43 cars that he won Daytona in. In your face America!
The other is at the Smithsonian.
So, Detroit builds 'em cheaper each year, cookie cutter cars to enable them to have more models. Quality is a foriegn word now.
Now, their misplaced ideals and efforts have come full circle and are biting them in the butt. They had to give cars away for how long now? Now, they can't even give them away. So, what's left? Downsize. No more Buicks, Oldsmobiles, and what's next?
Think the shareholders are happy now? Who's end did they really serve?
Everybody blames the unions. I think the unions are greedy and self serving, too. BUT, the automakers have let the unions have control, it's called appeasement. Give them money, and make the problem go away. Give a crying baby a bottle, and they'll stop crying...for awhile.
Whats' the answer? Simple. Get control (a subject all it's own). Get back to the basics of running your business. There are 3 paramount functions of creating and maintaining a successful business.
1. [u]Quality[/u]-
You need to have an outstanding product. One which is unique, one of a kind and special. This is termed a "niche". I can cite many examples in just the auto world where manufacturers have set themselves apart from the others with a feature or two.
2. [u]Service[/u]-You need to attend to your customers with world class service. Honesty and genuine concern for the way your customers use the product. One where you do not hype your product so much, the reality is depressing.
Nothing builds brand loyalty better than good old American service.
3. [u]Value[/u]-Give the customer what you promised, and a little bit more, nothing less. Price your products according to reality, not perception. Stand behind your product, don't run from it.
Closing plants and firing employees is not the answer to long term profitability, it's the sign of desperation. Closing plants and firing employees is not a "turnaround" plan, it's the plan of weak minds. These are not success strategies, they're "cut and run" strategies.
OK, I got that off my chest, now it's back to work. LOL
:O)
P
Until GM starts making cars at least as good as the low-price Hyundai and offers a 10-year / 100,000 mi. warranty to boot, they're not going to be able to compete. If you want a story about how a low-quality auto became a high-quality auto, look at Hyundai. Why can't GM do what the Koreans have done?