Well last I checked the foreign cars were just as expensive if not more so than domestic cars. Therefore the the reason people are choosing foreign cars (even those produced in America) over domestic cars (even those owned by foreign companies) must be that at least one of the criteria quality, safety, economy) you mentioned must be lacking in the domestic cars and not lacking in the foreign cars that people are buying.
Let's presume that safety and economy are relatively close between foreign and domestic cars. Then that only leaves quality that is lacking.
I don't know about you but I'm driving an 18 year old foreign car, while it is hard to find any domestic cars even half its age still on the road.
Value counts, when you are making the second most expensive purchase in the Average American's life. Even more so when it is the most expensive purchase.
"I don't know about you but I'm driving an 18 year old foreign car, while it is hard to find any domestic cars even half its age still on the road."
I don't know about that... I see plenty of 20+ year old domestics on the road here next to Toyota's NA headquarters. Plenty of generation I Tauruses (20+ years old), too ...though I consider pre '97 Tauruses to be risky quality wise...
Most recent surveys, when properly analyzed from a statistical basis, show only very slight differences on average in quality... Some domestics do better than some imports and vice-versa. Its always worth looking at the actual data on a specific model, not going with preconceived notions.
After all, Hyundai has until recently built complete crap. :) Did their improved quality allow them to give 10 year warranties, or did the offer of a 10 year warranty result in higher perceived quality? Tough call, there...