Mister Jimmy

Why I'd Avoid Toyota, The #1 Automaker in the U.S.

So, U.S. government ownership of GM and Chrysler will ensure their success, to the disadvantage of Toyota? Seems fair. The JAPANESE government has partnered with Toyota for decades.

How Many Automakers Survive the Long Haul?

GM has designers, engineers, and planners as creative and smart as any in Europe and Asia. Its leadership did not address spiraling legacy (health care and pension) costs long ago and failed to use its global footprint to compete effectively in key segments. Yes, the new Malibu is a formidable competitor to Camry and Accord, and GM builds an awesome truck, but there is no excuse for a 100-year-old company not to have a vehicle competing effectively with the Corolla and Civic. Emerging markets gravitate to that vehicle class and smaller, something GM should have recognized long ago. Look for the new GM board to replace Fritz Henderson with a visionary outsider, much as Bill Ford brought in an outsider to run his firm. This iconic old firm will never be what it once was, and that's undoubtedly a good thing.

Remodeling the Auto Industry - Barron's

a. palmer jr., I couldn't agree more. A Taiwanese co-worker told me that Toyota and Honda continue fighting an uphill battle with many consumers in mainland China. Many remain bitter about Imperial Japan's rape of Nanjing in the 1930's. "Amazing", I said, "no American would let the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the Baatan death march influence their purchase decisions". He responded, "The Chinese are an older culture, and have a longer memory than you".

Remodeling the Auto Industry - Barron's

Let's completely hand over our economic destinies to the asians, arabs, and europeans. For several decades now, they've solidly demonstrated that they're our friends and will act in America's best interest. Once our trillions in national debt requires us to scale back our military, we'll be all set.

Chrysler, GM Travails Could Be a Boon for Honda

Do you think that when the Japanese utterly and completely control the U.S. vehicle market they just might use one of those little Priuses to drive up our collective butts?

Ten Cars Detroit Should Copy

"...they could run them on sludge and still be greener than Detroit". You had to have taken a big gulp of the Kool-Aid for that one, Rick. Especially amusing given the hushed oil-sludge class action lawsuit consumers won against Toyota a couple of years ago.

Panelists Predict Smart Grid Cars in Five Years

2222, there are electrical power outlets in nearly every garage in America. Conceivably, compressed natural gas (CNG) could also be procured from household sources, but not so with hydrogen. Plus, the infrastructure would need to be created (not cheap). Lastly, if people think the $40K required to purchase a Volt will be out of reach, the technology cost per vehicle for CNG and hydrogen will be even less attractive to them.

Panelists Predict Smart Grid Cars in Five Years

GM is already working with 30 utility companies and consumer groups to develop a strategy for how the Chevy Volt will work in the real world (a fact that will never be a headline feature on this thread).....

jalopnik.com/399052/gm...

GM Gets Some Good News, Chrysler - Not So Much

Mad Hedge Fund Trader, you've posted that very same message before, but now I must ask you, why are they 30 years too late? An American firm is meeting and beating the competition head-on. In the 1950's and 1960's Japanese cars were poor-quality jokes. Their government and their people stuck with them and made them a winner. They knew that a viable automotive industry was vital to their economic future, so I'm certain they were excited as the products improved. Now that American products are improving. why not demonstrate the same intelligence and wisdom they did?

Time for GM to Declare Bankruptcy?

A GM bankruptcy is not likely. Treasury Secretary Geithner appeared on PBS earlier this week, and aid to the U.S. auto industry was one of the topics of discussion. He said the current challenge facing the industry is partially a result of a larger financial crisis. “The industry is facing just exceptional challenges. Part of the challenges they brought on themselves and part of those challenges are just the function of the fact that we’re facing such a huge collapse in demand around the world and a very difficult financing environment. And what we want to do is figure out what restructuring plan will leave these firms in a position where they’re going to be viable over time without government support.” Geithner said bankruptcy is not the best option for the auto industry right now. “We’re going through a very challenging period in the American economy as a whole, and as the President said and the previous administration said, a disorderly failure of these firms in this economy would cause enormous damage in terms of job loss across a whole range of industries and in a recession like this you have to consider things you would never consider in a more normal economic environment.”

Doubling Fuel Economy Despite Economic Turmoil

Those that advance this type of thinking generally sit at a computer all day and obviously do not need a truck to make a living. Electric and hydrogen powered vehicles do not (at least at this time) generate the kind of horsepower that construction workers and farmers need to haul drywall, lumber, feed stocks, tools, etc. Electric vehicles will, however, work perfectly well to move them from their desk chairs to their Lazy Boys.

Is a Car Produced in Alabama Really an Import?

CLH, what a baffling contradiction your comment presented, "US auto makers have been left behind.....they are buying and building plants all over the world and these plants are profitable". Globally successful operations do not generally accrue to companies that are "left behind".

Is a Car Produced in Alabama Really an Import?

Asian Wang, Spring Hill TN used to be nothing but a fourway intersection and a speed trap, too, before GM built a facility there and put it on the map. BTW, it's sad that you feel compelled to call people "a retard" that have an opinion different than your own. It communicates much more about you, than them.

Is a Car Produced in Alabama Really an Import?

The Detroit News should know better? Perhaps you could know a little better, too, Dr. Perry. Where a vehicle is "assembled" is quite a different issue than where it is produced. Where are each of these vehicles designed? Developed? Prototyped? Tested? Validated? Component-sourced? Yes, all of those elements go into producing a car and, believe me, the Japanese and Germans are not performing all of those functions here. They assemble here to satisfy trade regulations....and to fool professional academics like you.

William Holstein on Why GM Matters

This piece is by far the most intelligent and balanced assessment of GM and the domestic auto industry I've ever seen on Seeking Alpha, perhaps anywhere. Thanks.