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Sharing Speculative Interest in GM

The notion that GM management is solely the blame is conclusion of the ill informed. The North American market has been quite different than in almost every other developed country in the world. A year and a half ago GM's truck plants were working on maximum overtime and Toyota Priuses had incentives on them (check it out if you don't believe me).

Toyota and Nissan recently entered the full size pickup and SUV markets in force, spending billions in the process, and they are suffering in these segments too. Luckily, they have to have a broader portfolio of small fuel efficient vehicles thanks, in part, to a protected home market in Japan. How does this help? They are able to develop and sell fuel efficient vehicles profictably in guaranteed volumes and not be subject to the fickle swings of the American consumer.

Take a closer look at GM/Ford/Chrysler vehicles on a value, fuel economy or other basis -- especially the latest ones like the Chevy Malibu, Ford Flext or Cadillac CTS -- with their Japanese competition and you will see that they compare quite favourably. Maybe all the product line up is up to their standards in all cases, but it still competes favourably. It's American's perceptions that are doing the Big 3 in and some of these are based on old facts or information that isn't current.