Embattled car chiefs in appeal to Bush

ft ^ | November 13 2006 | Bernard Simon in Toronto

[Flavius]

The chief executives of the three US carmakers will tell President George W. Bush on Wednesday that US energy, healthcare and trade policies are blunting their competitive edge against fast-growing Asian rivals.

Mr Bush is to meet Rick Wagoner of General Motors, Alan Mulally of Ford and Tom LaSorda of Chrysler, a division of Germany’s DaimlerChrysler. The get-together, initially set for last spring, will be the president’s first with all three executives.

[Dixie Yooper]

The other day I heard that GM wants to re-market Buick to compete with Lexus, Acura and Infinity. What about Cadillac?

[Drago]

It is going to take more than marketing to put a Buick on par with a Lexus!

P.S. What kind of car name is "Lucerne"...that is the "store brand" at my local Vons/Safeway!!! Make me think of a carton of milk or second rate quality!

[newgeezer]

Let me guess! X-body and K-Kar?

Nope. Both of those happened after 1978.

[newgeezer]

What kind of car name is "Lucerne"

Possibly just a very poorly-researched one.

[mewzilla]

Some days I don't know who to give the major share of blame to: the unions or the management.

A pox on both their houses. Nobody was holding a gun to their heads.

[Dixie Yooper]

The last american car I bought which happened to be new was a 1978 chevy elcamino. It was awful. Having to make payments on something that is falling apart after the 1 year warranty is expired will adjust your attitude for many years, in my case for good.

[jpl]

The huge corporations like Ford have been some of the biggest pushers of globalism and internationalism for the last 20 years.

It was a wise man who once said "be careful what you wish for".

[Howlin]

It took 12 posts, but yours is the winner!

[Dixie Yooper]

Make me think of a carton of milk or second rate quality

Same remark my wife made when they came out with it. I can't believe Ford pulled out the model name Zephyr again after it's run in the 80's.

[Leisler]

This is just a management work force/union labor bailout.

How about bankruptcy? The companies, their plants and of course boodles of skilled labor will then be able to be picked up and reorganized by more reality based investors. Combine all three into one company, call it Detroit Sobovich People's Heroic Company of Motorized Tractor and Retirement Village Industries. Also require people to buy new Peoples Vehicle.

[RightWhale]

Hillary!08 will save the car industry by transferring healthcare to Federal. Probably retirement, too.

[Dixie Yooper]

Thank you!
I just can't see the masses in China and Russia flocking to the Chevy dealer to get a Cobalt, the Ford dealer to get an F150, or Dodge to get a mini van, all of which are very poor in quality to their Japanese counterparts.

[CSM]

"Toyota and Honda actually *build* more vehicles in the US than GM, Ford or Chrysler. Wonder why they weren't invited?"

That is flat out false. Ford alone has 15 assembly plants in the US. Honda has what, one in Columbus? Is Toyota up to 2 or 3?

[Sender]

Yes they want the US government to subsidize their health care and pension obligations, otherwise they might have to honor them.

[newgeezer]

I can't believe Ford pulled out the model name Zephyr again after it's run in the 80's

Someone down the line must have called their attention to it. Did you see they dropped the name again after one model year?! What a joke.

[DungeonMaster]

Yes they want the US government to subsidize their health care and pension obligations, otherwise they might have to honor them.

I don't blame them for wanting a level playing field.

[Fierce Allegiance]

FYI

[brownsfan]

"It's both--Unions AND Wackos. "

Bah. You sound like a lib:
It's not the fault of the management of the auto makers, it's the unions, no, wait, it's the libs, no, wait, it's both, that's it, it's both.
How about lots of blame to go around. Unions made stupid demands, management AGREED to those demands. Management made uninspired product lines. Management just assumed we'd keep buying crap.

The libs will actually be good for the auto makers, in some respects. The EPA regulations apply to everyone, if you sell it in the US, EPA applies. Healthcare will be socialized, and paid for by taxpayers. It will take the burden off of the auto makers.

Now about taxes... well, ok, I didn't say libs would be 100% good for the auto makers.

Management sunk the auto makers, the unions just took what they could.

[paul51]

are blunting their competitive edge against fast-growing Asian rivals

I wonder if churning out product not enough people want has anything to do with it.