Comments on Calculated Risk: Auto Sales Skid

GM was a global company long before thephrase Glob...

2007-04-04T13:24:00.000-04:00

GM was a global company long before the
phrase Globalism. GM used to own
Vauxhall in britain, and parts of
several german companies. Ford-Europe
was making money while Ford-USA was losing money.

Back in the 70's GM had lots of plants in mexico
and canada.

The problem has always been Detroit sells
image, muscle and power. Japan was selling
quality, cost and economy.

GM failed to recognize market changes and
plan for the future.

I disagree. Toyota is a vastly overrated company. ...

2007-04-04T08:21:00.000-04:00

I disagree. Toyota is a vastly overrated company.

The fact is, they get several free handouts in the current globalist system.

If that system was "altered", Toyota down, American car makers up. Simple as that. Nobody has been dealt a more crippling blow by globalism than them.

We've dealt with Chrylser, Ford, GM, Toyota, Nissa...

2007-04-04T03:12:00.000-04:00

We've dealt with Chrylser, Ford, GM, Toyota, Nissan and Suzuki over the years.

And we've watched Toyota's growth and improvements in quality and business approach for more than 30 years. They truly have a different business model where they pay more than lip service to treating their employees, customers and suppliers right ... in marked contrast to American vehicle producers.

Don't expect anything but continued growth in Toyota's (and Honda's) dominance and a continued decline in Chrysler, Ford, GM. Seems to me that Daimler bought Chrysler for $30 or $40 billion about a decade ago? And now they'd be happy to unload it for a fraction of that?

The American car-makers' problems aren't going away any time soon.

But the American worker will at least benefit from domestic production of Asian autos.