But they aren't standing still. They are getting better and better at a rapid pace and now they have turned their attention to trucks and SUVs - up to now the only real bright spot in Detroit.
Even more omininously (from the viewpoint of Detroit), the Japanese Big Three have moved onto American turf, building U.S. factories, putting Americans (in mostly red states) to work and blurring the lines between "American cars" and "imports." And they have no UAW to worry about!
What is more American? A Ford made mostly in Mexico and assembled by union workers in Detroit who vote the "straight Democratic ticket" because their pinky-ringed bosses tell them to? Or a Nissan made in Tennessee by non-union workers, most of which go to church on Sundays, vote Republican and aren't afraid to fly the American flag on their front lawns?
What's worse for the Detroit Big 3, who continue to operate in some weird 1968 time warp, is that even once laughed at nameplates like Hyundai and Subaru are now kicking Detroit butt in carmaking. The ways things are going, Ford will soon be replacing Yugo as the butt of car jokes.
Well said!
Hear, hear. You absolutely nailed it. I still have my (last) Ford I bought new 11 years ago but once it's done, so am I with Ford, GM, etc. This car has been a POS but I keep it because it's paid for, looks good and still somewhat reliable. The next one will be a Toyota.
Another interesting development is that Honda is now exporting cars made in the U.S. to China: Acura TL Becomes First U.S. Model Exported To China By Japanese Luxury Nameplate
I've been searching for the 4th biggest U.S. car maker.
Since I can't find the figures, I feel that Chrysler shouldn't be part of the "Top 3" since that would imply competition, whereas they really won by default.
I work with 7 OEM Automaker companies at 40 manufacturing locations in US, CAN, MX, JP and UK.
Ford has, by far, the lowest integrity at each location. I'm convinced it's part of the culture. Crooked at every level from Purchasing to Design to Plant-level contacts. They can go under for all I care and we'd all be better off.
Nice post.
I hope.
That's going to put the big 3 losers under, IMHO. In SoFlo, SUVs are a novelty and we have one simply because it's safer to be in a bigger car when you risk some nutjob who never signals slams into you. However having recently travelled to Colorado and seeing the mountain road conditions first hand, I realize SUVs/trucks w/4WD are not a choice in many cases.
If we had not been driving a 4WD on some of those Rocky Mt roads, we would not have gotten far. SUVs and trucks are going to be a sustainable market despite whatever the gas prices are in those areas. Everyone needs at least one to get around there. If Toyota and Honda provide an alternative, it's going to sell, and it's more than likely to be a better product than the big 3 losers.
Very good post and I agree with you. Chrysler is the only one of the three putting out a lot of compelling mainstream cars. of course it took merging with Daimler-Benz for them to get any flair in their lineup but they have some none the less. They don't have the reliability of the Japs but are very unique and exciting cars (300, Magnum, etc). Problem is most of them start up in the mid-20's and a lot of buyers aren't looking to get a heavy car with a V8 in the days of three dollar gas. I could see getting a Chrysler but I really don't see any reason to get a mainstream GM or Ford. I don't understand buying something that isn't as well made, depreciates a lot faster, doesn't handle as well, and on average isn't as reliable.
Hell, even Hyundai beats Detroit for quality and dollar value.
Reminder:
In just about every survey imaginable, Nissan ends up BELOW just about every single domestic nameplate. Even Consumer Reports is nailing Nissan now...