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- Auto Industry Business Model Needs a Major Overhaul [view article]
- The US Auto Crisis [view article]
- Emerging Markets Offset Weak Auto Sales in Europe, Less So for U.S. [view article]
- When Truckers Can't Afford Trucks, What Do They Buy? [view article]
- Electric Cars for 2010: Shift from Foreign Oil to Riding on Local Renewable Energy [view article]
- EEStor Advanced Capacitor Best Use in A Hybrid Car [view article]
- Options Trader: Wednesday Outlook [view article]
- Global Battery Equity Index [view article]
- GM Goes Lean to Stay Ahead of Toyota [view article]
- Hybrid Cars: It Finally Makes Economic Sense to Buy One [view article]
- Solar Cells on Electric Cars Make Cents [view article]
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loading ...Recent TM Articles
- Auto Industry Business Model Needs a Major Overhaul
- Does Anyone Still Believe There Is No Recession?
- Emerging Markets Offset Weak Auto Sales in Europe, Less So for U.S.
- When Truckers Can't Afford Trucks, What Do They Buy?
- Options Trader: Wednesday Outlook
- The US Auto Crisis
- GM Goes Lean to Stay Ahead of Toyota
- Options Trader: Monday Outlook
- Solar Cells on Electric Cars Make Cents
- Options Trader: Thursday Outlook
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Auto Industry Business Model Needs a Major Overhaul [view article]
There is NO question that U.S. automotive manufacturers need to drastically alter their business plans to survive. To that end, here's one idea they could consider:Yesterday Ford announced they lost over $8 BILLION in their 2Q this year alone, an all-time record. They added that they planned to offer several of their most fuel-efficient European models in the U.S. by 2012 (!) in an affort to stem these losses.
The only flaw in this plan is at their present rate, FORD WON'T STILL BE AROUND IN 2012 for this idea to work.
Instead, Ford should IMMEDIATELY dial up their Congressional delegation, financiers, lobbyists, the EPA and NHSTA, and start LOADING THE BOATS to bring these cars here TODAY. They can start building them in the U.S. when they see which ones are selling well.
We need to quit FOOLING AROUND and "DEEP SIX" all the artificial regulatory red tape we've laid on our manufacturing and energy industries if America's economy is going to SURVIVE THIS YEAR AND NEXT, much less worry about what happens in 2012.
For the life of me, I cannot comprehend why the Administration and the politicos in Washington cannot understand that we have AN ECONOMIC EMERGENCY, and keep on pretending that we should go about "BUSINESS AS USUAL!"
Reply
Auto Industry Business Model Needs a Major Overhaul [view article]
The three trillion spent on the Iraq War could have purchased139,000,000 hybrid automobiles and cut automobile gasoline use in half. Not to mention air pollution.
One of the FDR braintrust people suggested that in order to bring about a major good change in America, one had to bribe 51% of the people. This could easily be done in the name of economic sanity. It might even appeal to Americans. Subsidies and tax breaks for people buying hybrids, etc. Plus - money saved on gasoline would flow into all local economies and lift all boats: local businesses and local employment, municipalities and states.
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The US Auto Crisis [view article]
BioInvester, women were fired. Check your records. It was several contractors in the advertising field across the country that were fired or demoted. The RDMMs made the recommendations. Also, if women do not make a difference, then why did you have the engineers at GM be forced to dress up in women's dresses to experience the Acadia from a woman's point of view? ReplyAuto Industry Business Model Needs a Major Overhaul [view article]
That could be true, Look at when all of the fuel efficient cars came out around 1974 fuel ration time., But after years went by we went back to big trucks and SUVS. This could be a cycle.Except for to much foreign oil. Reply
hters
Auto Industry Business Model Needs a Major Overhaul [view article]
By the time US automakers retool their assembly lines to make small, fuel-efficient cars, the energy crisis will be over and the US market will crave SUVs and vans. ReplyAuto Industry Business Model Needs a Major Overhaul [view article]
" Everyones getting a bail out ",Maybe theses factorys should keep a closer eye on whats going on, The SUV market started to die and they have nothing on the drawing board ??. Now it,s going to be a couple of years before they can get a car on the dealers lot. And what are people going to want or interested in. ethanol, hydrogen, battery cell ??? Reply
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Auto Industry Business Model Needs a Major Overhaul [view article]
It's simple. Develop a car that is fuel-efficient and focus on quality to every minute detail. Most people want transportation that gets them from point A to point B and back to point A. What's so difficult about this concept? Focus on a few models, turboboost quality, keep the same design for three to five years and you'll make money. If one or all of the big three would have developed a fuel-efficient car after the 1974 oil embargo, they wouldn't be in this mess. Plan long-range, not short-range. There is a large market of car buyers right now---looking for reliable transportation that won't bankrupt them at the gas pump. Give the market what it wants! ReplyAuto Industry Business Model Needs a Major Overhaul [view article]
I see all three of them facing bankruptcy, unless there is a federal bailout (loan guarantees like the Chrysler bailout several years back). If these companies can't make money when everything is going their way (big SUV and truck sales with low fuel prices), how can they make money in a bad environment? They can't! Instead there will be a long period of big losses--ending in bankruptcy. ReplyEmerging Markets Offset Weak Auto Sales in Europe, Less So for U.S. [view article]
Speaking of which, Ford announced an $8 billion quarterly loss today, the largest in their company's history. They said they planned to arrest these poor sales results by importing several European models to the U.S. between 2010-12.Tell you what. They had better dial up their Congressional delegation, the EPA, NHTSA, their European factories and whoever else they need to call and start LOADING THE BOATS RIGHT NOW if they still want to be around by then!
For the life of me, I cannot understand how we're not reacting to the obvious ECONOMIC EMERGENCY we're now confronting due to skyrocketing energy prices with greater VIGOR and ALACRITY. It's just BUSINESS AS USUAL in Detroit and Washington!
Can all these otherwise smart people REALLY be so STUPID? I don't mind telling you, it's scary!!! Reply
Emerging Markets Offset Weak Auto Sales in Europe, Less So for U.S. [view article]
I saw an item recently that said full-size Buicks (...black ones) are the favorite auto purchase of upscale Chinese. Obviously, however, owing to skyrocketing gasoline prices, VERY small, VERY fuel efficient cars are going to outsell everything else the world over. ReplyWhen Truckers Can't Afford Trucks, What Do They Buy? [view article]
Maybe we can ask the author to talk about the status of over-the-road trucks in his next post? ReplyWhen Truckers Can't Afford Trucks, What Do They Buy? [view article]
Dang, I thought you were going to write about TRUCKS: Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner, Volvo, Mack. The stuff above is pickups. ReplyLattarulo
The US Auto Crisis [view article]
Bio Investor, "Factual Documented Information" as released by the media is just that. I am giving you information based on 15 years of working inside these companies. Take from it what you do or do not wish to believe. In any case, I applaud your convictions. ReplyLattarulo
The US Auto Crisis [view article]
BIO INVESTOR ReplyThe US Auto Crisis [view article]
Gino Lattarulo, I am not sure why you wrote the article. It has, at best, only moderate benefit to investors.The article also contains serious factual errors. The failure rates among different brands--and consumer preferences--are well documented. Companies like Honda and Toyota have consistently manufactured cars that perform better. You actually talk about the quality problems in US cars in your article; I don't see how you can conclude that there is no difference in quality among the different brands. Reply