The end of an era
Toyota has finally outstripped GM as the world’s top selling car manufacturer. It is no wonder why. While Detroit spent its time building gas-guzzling monster trucks and unattractive cars of dubious quality, Toyota has been creating top shelf, fuel-efficient models that run forever.
For the life of me, I just do not understand the American auto industry’s resistance to creating fuel-efficient cars. The market is there and has been for at least two decades. That intransigence has cost Detroit billions. It also means that the next car I buy will most likely be a Prius or Camry hybrid because the US does not make anything comparable.
The same goes for both design and quality. Why would one buy an ugly, mediocre Ford 500 when one could get a Honda Accord for the same money? Seriously, the only design shop showing any imagination is Chrysler (the 300 is just plain cool looking). Each of the Big Three has had quality issues, especially when compared to the Japanese.
I hope that this will serve as a wakeup call to Detroit and inspire the Big Three to get their act together.
posted by joestrummerlives at 10:39 AM
2 Comments:
You just have to look at Ford and Cheve commercials to understand why the US automakers aren't making a change. When it comes to trucks, in many ways, they still see the American public as individual farmers and blue-collar workers who need these massive trucks. As for cars, they believe (not entirely inaccurately) that the young and well off - read: "yuppies" - want to have the "new and improved" version of cars which carry a classic image, like Ford's Mustang. As long as the big 3 continue to hold out-dated views of the American public, they'll continue to lose ground to Toyota
10:49 AM
From your lips to God's ears...
1:35 PM
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