How Detroit Drove Into a Ditch

kuttapan · 29th October 2008, 01:33

This article came in WSJ on saturday. Provides some insights on how the US auto scene ended up in the current precarious situation. Interesting read. Read on - How Detroit Drove Into a Ditch - WSJ.com

After reading this, I remembered a comment from Jeremy Clarkson on GM. He referred to GM as 'that pension and social welfare company'. How true !

theMAG · 29th October 2008, 02:27

That was a very comprehensive article indeed. I'm sorry to see that it predicts some of the Detroit 3 to vanish next year.

abhiram7912 · 29th October 2008, 02:28

i think this article should have come a longtime ago. ford could have saved itself from misery if they sold their europe only cars in US. but they said no we will devolop big SUV's and pick ups because americans do not care about fuel prices. now they are facing the consequences and started devoloping smaller cars and better cars for ex : malibu, cobalt, cruze etc.

Superleggera · 29th October 2008, 02:39

I think ford doesn't seem to learn. They are busy in promoting their new S(M)UV Flex instead of their small cars. There is a Chrysler showroom near my work place, I could see at least 50 Chrysler Aspens lying there untouched for atleast 4 months !

abhiram7912 · 29th October 2008, 02:50

i think ford are thinking atleast to bring their euro models to usa, unlike gm and chrysler.
i think ford flex is good alternative to minivan it gets good mpg, well atleast among the minivans.

kuttapan · 29th October 2008, 04:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by abhiram7912

i think this article should have come a longtime ago. ford could have saved itself from misery if they sold their europe only cars in US. but they said no we will devolop big SUV's and pick ups because americans do not care about fuel prices. now they are facing the consequences and started devoloping smaller cars and better cars for ex : malibu, cobalt, cruze etc.

No offence, but none of the cars you referred to are built by FORD !! rather, all of them are Chevvy's. The cobalt sucks, I have no experience regarding other two.

abhiram7912 · 29th October 2008, 05:04

no i m not saying they are built by ford, i m just saying atleast they are trying to build small fuel efficient cars.

aaggoswami · 29th October 2008, 08:37

Excellent article.
But noone is vanishing. GM is looking to cover lost ground with Cruze, a car that can really help.

Ford will lose further because it is not keen on bringing the European models in US. If they do bring Fiesta, Focus ( European focus in US ), Mondeo, S-Max, then they are winning. But since many years they have not taken this action.

BaCkSeAtDrIVeR · 29th October 2008, 09:04

Quote:

Ford will lose further because it is not keen on bringing the European models in US. If they do bring Fiesta, Focus ( European focus in US ), Mondeo, S-Max, then they are winning. But since many years they have not taken this action.

And just in case they cannot convert the manufacturing facilities in US quick enough, they can export FBUs from India.

OT- That will throw up a stink amongst the trade unions in US; and the govt will retaliate by asking the Indian govt to allow import of FBUs at lower duties. It is a win-win situation for us consumers!!

aaggoswami · 29th October 2008, 10:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaCkSeAtDrIVeR

And just in case they cannot convert the manufacturing facilities in US quick enough, they can export FBUs from India.

Did you mean FBU = Fully Built Unit ?
If so, then I call it CBU = Completely Built Unit.

This possibility is certain to meet with success. Chevrolet Aveo that is sold in India is also sold in US with the same 1.6 ltr engine. Now Ford Fiesta in India can also be sold there and I am sure buyers there will appreciate the better than Hyundai Verna and Chevrolet Aveo 1.6 engine, good build quality and driving pleasure atlesat handling wise. But I dont think this thought crossed Ford's mind.

pjbiju · 19th November 2008, 22:23

It is also very interesting to read the book "On a Clear Day You Can See General Motors" by John Z. DeLorean. Gives an insider's view of how things are managed and mismanaged within the company.

29th October 2008, 01:33	#1
kuttapan Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,155 Thanked: 22 Times View My Garage	How Detroit Drove Into a Ditch This article came in WSJ on saturday. Provides some insights on how the US auto scene ended up in the current precarious situation. Interesting read. Read on - How Detroit Drove Into a Ditch - WSJ.com After reading this, I remembered a comment from Jeremy Clarkson on GM. He referred to GM as 'that pension and social welfare company'. How true !
	() Thanks

29th October 2008, 02:27	#2
theMAG Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Avon, CT Posts: 7,217 Thanked: 1,807 Times View My Garage	That was a very comprehensive article indeed. I'm sorry to see that it predicts some of the Detroit 3 to vanish next year.
	() Thanks

29th October 2008, 02:28	#3
abhiram7912 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 170 Thanked: 76 Times	i think this article should have come a longtime ago. ford could have saved itself from misery if they sold their europe only cars in US. but they said no we will devolop big SUV's and pick ups because americans do not care about fuel prices. now they are facing the consequences and started devoloping smaller cars and better cars for ex : malibu, cobalt, cruze etc.
	() Thanks

29th October 2008, 02:39	#4
Superleggera BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Kannur/Boston Posts: 531 Thanked: 816 Times View My Garage	I think ford doesn't seem to learn. They are busy in promoting their new S(M)UV Flex instead of their small cars. There is a Chrysler showroom near my work place, I could see at least 50 Chrysler Aspens lying there untouched for atleast 4 months !
	() Thanks

29th October 2008, 02:50	#5
abhiram7912 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 170 Thanked: 76 Times	i think ford are thinking atleast to bring their euro models to usa, unlike gm and chrysler. i think ford flex is good alternative to minivan it gets good mpg, well atleast among the minivans.
	() Thanks

29th October 2008, 05:04	#7
abhiram7912 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 170 Thanked: 76 Times	no i m not saying they are built by ford, i m just saying atleast they are trying to build small fuel efficient cars.
	() Thanks

29th October 2008, 08:37	#8
aaggoswami Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vadodara Posts: 4,982 Thanked: 2,931 Times	Excellent article. But noone is vanishing. GM is looking to cover lost ground with Cruze, a car that can really help. Ford will lose further because it is not keen on bringing the European models in US. If they do bring Fiesta, Focus ( European focus in US ), Mondeo, S-Max, then they are winning. But since many years they have not taken this action.
	() Thanks

19th November 2008, 22:23	#11
pjbiju Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 1,357 Thanked: 1,092 Times	Book on GM It is also very interesting to read the book "On a Clear Day You Can See General Motors" by John Z. DeLorean. Gives an insider's view of how things are managed and mismanaged within the company.
	() Thanks