That is my prediction.
American manufacturers have shot themselves in the foot.
1) Can't compete with imports. This can't be argued. At any given price point imports have many more and in the mind of consumers "better" choices.
2) Conditioned buyers to expect 0% or huge rebates - lead to squeezed profit margins and in ford's case profits in the red. People refuse to buy without these incentives.
3) Lost the battle in consumers minds. People just don't associate american cars with quality.
4) Unions - stupid high school dropouts demanding WAY too much in pay, benefits and retirement. Foreign country's labor is fractions of the cost. More erroded margins.
The only thing keeping them afloat now is the scant diversification of each corporation and soon that will be unable to sustain the losses and the cash will be tight (it isn't right now).
So long Detroit. We'll miss ya.
American manufacturers have shot themselves in the foot.
1) Can't compete with imports. This can't be argued. At any given price point imports have many more and in the mind of consumers "better" choices.
2) Conditioned buyers to expect 0% or huge rebates - lead to squeezed profit margins and in ford's case profits in the red. People refuse to buy without these incentives.
3) Lost the battle in consumers minds. People just don't associate american cars with quality.
4) Unions - stupid high school dropouts demanding WAY too much in pay, benefits and retirement. Foreign country's labor is fractions of the cost. More erroded margins.
The only thing keeping them afloat now is the scant diversification of each corporation and soon that will be unable to sustain the losses and the cash will be tight (it isn't right now).
So long Detroit. We'll miss ya.