I figure it's coming soon, thanks to their own bad marketing practices. I don't think Ford is going to die, but I don't see how General Motors WON'T die. Their product planning is horrid. They bet the farm on their SUVs and completely ignored everything else, not to mention, they have way too many brands/dealerships to keep up with. They would either go broke trying to develop new product for every brand they sell, or go broke not selling any cars if they don't develop new product. Chrysler is just as bad, but at least they have less dead weight regarding the quantity of brands. Both companies need good, new, small cars though, and GM has some, but they can't afford to wait til 2010/2011 to release them.
I read this somewhere. The problem with the US car companies is: They don't make what people want...they expect people to want what they make.
Pretty much. And right now in America, all the foreign automakers are stealing their lunch, cuz the foreign companies actually make what we want.
The recent financial fiasco has left no industry untouched and the automakers are no exception to this vicious cycle. They have to wait till the situation improves but one wonders whether they can really wait till such time?
If they want the government to bail them out, they should develop fuel efficient and cars that run on alternative energy sources other than oil.
Its nice to say what they should do but.. 3 things come to mind.. we need the infrastructure to support new technologies.. which means money.. people will be without jobs due to this.. money and unemployment, PEOPLE need to stop talking about.."WHAT" they would do and write there congress people.. organize social events...review new bills being pitched by lawmakers.. In the 60's we had renewable tax incentives but they were removed.. Multiple cars built on different technologies since the 60's.. BUT WE THE PEOPLE ALLOWED for OIL based cars to RULE the industry..
Yes, THE WORST MGT in car history. The executives deserve NOTHING. I buy Honda and Toyota because they know how to build and sell great cars at a great price. The BIG 3 should be allowed to go bankrupt, they will simply re-organize and change, not disappear. Michael Moore was right about a lot of things.
And i feel that this is just the start of it. Ford in our place have even reduced salary for all the workers and have plans to even lay off many.. no idea when this end, hope sooner rather than later..
GM is suffering from years, if not decades of head-in-the-sand marketing policies. Another poster was right - they have far too many divisions, brands and models. Couple this to anarchaic labor agreements and inefficient business practices - reorganization through bankruptcy is their only option. A massive bailout at this stage would only prolong the inevitable. Its not JUST the sour economy that is working against GM - its years of poor management and short-sightedness. We will not see Chrysler or Dodge at this time next year that is even more sure. Ford is best placed of all three dinosaurs. My two cents!
Maybe the Chinese will come to the rescue, and save America the doubtless astronomical costs of all that potential unemployment?