Originally posted by: Engineer
Originally posted by: GroundedSailor
Originally posted by: Engineer
Originally posted by: GroundedSailor
Originally posted by: Engineer
Originally posted by: GroundedSailor
Have you driven domestics lately? You'll be surprised how good they've become.
Pretty soon, they will be domestic only in name. Ford, GM and Chrysler are moving factories to Mexico as fast as they can get them going (without breaking the bank).
I'll still be happy that profits (if any!), R&D money and expertise remains here as compared to Japanese etc.
The Japanese are pumping R&D dollars into the US and opening up engineering centers, etc. As for profits, I would just assume keep people working regardless of the profits. What good are profits (if any as you say) if the company is investing them in other countries and moving more of what's in the US to the outside (including R&D etc)? None!
You're in the industry. Tell me how much percentage of R&D money does Honda spend in the US vs say Ford or Chrysler?
Bear in mind they're essentially global companies.
Being a supplier doesn't give me extra information other than watching my business go down the tubes (no pun intended since we make automotive tubing) because we were in bed too much with Ford/GM/Chrysler instead of trying to gain marketshare in the "so called foreigns". However, Ford, GM and Chrysler are shifting R&D outside this country, and are using more and more European designs (because they sell well). Their R&D staffs are shrinking in the US as we speak. On the other hand, Toyota and Honda have opened engineering centers in the US and have started designing cars here (Honda Ridgeline was a US design). Throw in the fact that Chrysler (others?) are replacing US engineers/designers with foreigners with H-1B Visas...<barf>
Like I said...Honda, Toyota, Kia, Hyundai are investing money and creating jobs in this country. Ford, GM and Chrysler are not. My preference still stands.
And for the record, I've never bought anything but a Ford, GM or Chrylser labeled product. That might change next time around though. I would buy a Georgetown, KY built Camry before a Mexican built Ford Fusion (and not because I like the Camry better either).