“I don’t think GM’s chief problem is crappy product. They make some decent vehicles, especially 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton trucks. GM’s problem is legacy costs and unreasonable union contracts they should’ve never agreed to.”
The biggest problem isn’t a crappy product today, though they are far from class leading in most segments. The problem is decades of crap. Bad cars in the past, in particular during the 70s and 80s, are what allowed the Japanese to take over many key segments. The people who switched are now happy and it’ll be hard to win them back.
Detroit fought putting pollution controls on cars till in 1974 it had to and the technology was terrible. Gizmos and solenoids and mechanical sensors made starting a car an iffy proposition. And if following instructions didn't work (and often it didn't) lifting the hood an hitting a reset button was the last resort.
But the 1975 models had better equipment and were light years a head of 74’s. Loved my 75 LTD.
I bought a new 70 Nova. Nice car but no brakes to speak of.
A couple of hard stops and fade was so severe that it was like having no brakes at all.
But that was along time ago.