First calls to bail out US domestic auto industry

[MacMagus]

> I would hardly call the largest auto manufacturer in the world 'failed'.

Neither would I. Toyota is doing very well.

[Will Collier]

Give it a rest, Governor Moonbeam. They're in trouble because their cars suck and they encourage their dealers to be dishonest crooks.

[Jp!]

[quote MacMagus]> I would hardly call the largest auto manufacturer in the world 'failed'.

Neither would I. Toyota is doing very well.
SA

that's a tenuous and arguable 'fact'.

[MacMagus]

> that's a tenuous and arguable 'fact'.

As is the suggestion that GM is the world's largest manufacturer. Toyota has already been declared the largest manufacturer by analysts, but the 2007 figures have to be assessed in the late Fall before it becomes official.

Meanwhile, you seem to have missed the subtle point: The auto industry in general is not suffering the same decline that the US auto manufacturers are experiencing. If the market can support Toyota's massive growth then GM's massive loss of marketshare can't be due to a declining market.

GM is not competing effectively. It might be due to poor engineering or poor marketing or whatever, but all of that comes down to almost incredibly poor choices on the part of management... "incompetence" was just the right word.


> Now APPLE...
...
> So, I guess they failed, too. They were NUMBER ONE with the Apple II and 'desktop'/GUI Operating Systems.

That's a point that most people seem happy to concede: In the 1980's Apple lost their massive lead in the market due to mismanagement.

But Apple seems to be on a bit of a comeback. After a complete overhaul of their management team.

Perhaps that's what GM needs.

[Jp!]

I agree. GM is getting kicked in the proverbial teeth and that is a GOOD THING.

And that is why the #1 in any market will cruise along whistling UNTIL this happens, ala Google, Glock, etc. That's the epitome of competition, and is good.

I am not a GM nor Toyota consumer at this time. But, I would not hesitate to buy from either. They both have good products. Although, frankly, Toyota's styling is VERY conservative (dull?) mostly. The tC is about the sportiest thing they have going. But, that's another topic.

[Jp!]

wow, he's bald now. I haven't seen him for years.

[IronMac]

[quote Jp!]In my opinion yes. No market leader ever stays on top over the long haul. AT&T might have. Thanks congress. I would hardly call the largest auto manufacturer in the world 'failed'.

I like to use the phrase "Nowhere to go but DOWN". And it's proving to be true.

Just because Toyota can sell cars does not make GM incompetent.
For an industry to mess up as badly as the American manufacturers have, with all of the advantages that they had, it can only mean that they're incompetent. The idea that it's "inevitable" is an easy cop-out.

[Jp!]

Some people don't want domestics to win. They just want to suck the life out of them through various ways, and allow cheap imports with less regulations in their home states to come in, or set up shop here with no legacy agreements.

I"m not saying inevitable for JUST the auto industry. I'm saying ALL industries past and present; same could apply to governments/societies, too. Not a cop out. Observation and natural order.

[Racer X]

The oil industry should bail them out. They are co-dependant after all.

[Jp!]

same difference.