mcbain

Cash-For-Clunkers Reveals Weakness Among Detroit Brands

It should not be a big surprise that the Ford F150 was the most traded in vehicle since, as the best selling vehicle in the USA for the last 40 years, there are more of them available to trade in than any other vehicle. Ford made $1 billion in the last quarter, someone must be buying American. Finally, to those who purchase foreign cars, the average Ford sold in the USA is nearly 80% US content, while the average foreign car sold in the US is 35%. Plus, most of the R&D of the foreign companies are spent overseas, while the domestic 3 spent $14 billion on R&D in the US a few years ago. This is a bunch of jobs. So buy American (Ford)!

Toyota Prius Again Tops EPA Fuel Economy Ratings

Is the Prius midsize? I thought it was smaller than the Fusion.

Foreign Carmakers More Domestic than Detroit's Big Three

In US sales, the average Detroit 3 foreign content is about 20% and the average foreign car content is about 65%. This guy does not seem to realize that auto assembly plants are only part of the picture, engine plants and transmission plants etc. employ tens of thousands here in the US and their products go to US assembly plants whereas much of the foreign manufacturers get their parts from overseas. Also, a couple of years ago the Detroit 3 spent about $18 billion in R&D, about 80% of which was spent in the US while the foreign companies spend much of their R&D overseas. This article is very misleading.

Cars: What It Means to 'Buy American'

Average foreign content of the Detroit 3 is 21%, average foreign content of other cars sold in the US is 65%, 3 times more. Plus, Detroit 3 spend about $18 billion in R&D, most of which is in the US while others R&D is not. All translates to many more American jobs.


On Apr 09 11:31 PM Seamus42 wrote:

> The "real Yank" is an idiot. But lest anyone be deceived, these
> American companies may assemble cars in the US, but many of the parts
> come from outside the US. The Ford Fusion is based on a Mazda chassis;
> the Tarus on a Volvo chassis. At GM, the Saturn Aura is a German
> Opel as is the Solstice, and Sky; the Pontiac G8 is based on an Australian
> Holden. At Chrysler, the 300 is based on a 2 gen old E-Class Mercedes
> and that chassis is also the basis for the new Challenger. Oh, and
> the mini vans are made (assembled) in Canada.
> As I last knew, the Ford F-150 truck was the most American made product
> as determined by the UAW and that was about 95% US parts. In today's
> global economy there is no true "American car company"

U.S. Automakers’ Race to the Bottom

A new hire at Ford now starts at $14 an hour. How low can you go?


On Mar 05 11:52 AM jm5383 wrote:

> Let them declare bankruptcy, break the union contracts, reopen profitable
> car lines with efficient operating plants (Saturn?), rehire only
> enough to people to run those plants at Nissan and Toyota wages....it's
> that easy.

Toyota: An All-Electric Car by 2012

2010 Ford Fusion goes up to 47 mph on electric only, and has a range of 700 miles, is midsize and can fit 4 people comfortably. Don't see this Toyota as that big a deal.

Let's Hope the Auto Bailout Has Failed for Good

Ford is building cars equal to the Japanese in quality and fuel efficiency, and better in safety. Also reduced their models. They did what needed to be done, now, because credit is tight and people can't borrow for cars, they need a bridge loan to get them through the economic downturn caused by the housing mess. Read pages 15-17 of the Plan they submitted to congress:
www.fordvehicles.com/t.../
When there is talk of starting from the ground up, what about the retirees and surviving spouses? What happens in 20 years when Toytota has a significant number of retirees? Will states be inducing China to build factories and will we then tell Toyota you must restructure because you have legacy costs and have them kick their retirees to the curb? I am for capitalism, but not this type.