LA Times to Detroit: Drop dead

[Hunid Racks]

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...0828067/&imw=Y


Today’s Los Angeles Times lead editorial says “U.S. automakers can’t blame Washington for the fix they’re in”:


To put it simply, the LA Times is wrong.

[wescoent]

How about a choice?

Each automaker can choose one of the following two options:

1) Accept CAFE standards, and also get infinite access to low interest government loans

2) Disregard CAFE, but no loans

[t-rex]

Automakers can't blame Washington for the pickle they're in.

Washington didn't tell Detroit to focus solely on profitable trucks.
Washington didn't tell Detroit to ignore market trends.
Washington didn't tell Detroit to lag behind in quality and technology for so long.

Seems NOBODY but Detroit's big 3 are crying about CAFE. And there are several car companies that don't exactly specialize in high-MPG lineups!

But if it's warranted, I'd support loans to help 'em through a tough time. Maybe it'll teach 'em a lesson!

[EldoFan]

Detroit got drunk......they got drunk and now they have a hangover.

It's their own ****ing fault for the mess they're in and I just wish someone would tell em to buck up and keep on working at it instead of whining to no end......

[stormwatcher]

How did this loan package get lumped into the CAFE regulations with no one reporting on it? The bailout package was in the works a long time ago. Heck, everything else is getting bailed out, my as well toss some billions the automakers way. Future generations can pay off the mess.

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by t-rex

Automakers can't blame Washington for the pickle they're in.

Washington didn't tell Detroit to focus solely on profitable trucks.
Washington didn't tell Detroit to ignore market trends.
Washington didn't tell Detroit to lag behind in quality and technology for so long.

Seems NOBODY but Detroit's big 3 are crying about CAFE. And there are several car companies that don't exactly specialize in high-MPG lineups!

But if it's warranted, I'd support loans to help 'em through a tough time. Maybe it'll teach 'em a lesson!

Yup. That pretty much says it all.
Kinda common sense, if you ask me.

Now the part where GM failed to focus on building compact, fuel efficient cars profitably comes to bite them in the ass.

[wildgoosechase]

GM fought making the drastic re-alignment of production capacity that was needed. They went after the segment that allowed them to be profitable without angering the UAW. Now that they are facing bankruptcy the Union will have to be more compliant either that or have the contracts tossed in bankruptcy court.

[Sinner]

Originally Posted by t-rex

Seems NOBODY but Detroit's big 3 are crying about CAFE.

....and Toyota, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche.

[Exploder]

I blame Freep for sensationalizing these news. I thought the LA Times was literally telling the Big 3 to die and cease to exist like most Detroit haters.

[longislander]

Washington IS to blame for the mess Detroit is in. By opening our markets to EVERY foreign carmaker, without tariffs to eqaulize costs and level the playing field , the U.S. government has put our domestic car manufacturers at a terrible competitive disadvantage.
We impose ERISA, OSHA, Workers Comp, Disability, Social Security, Pension and Medical benefits on our employers. We impose strict environmental regulations. Then we permit Korean cars which are manufactured with dramatically lower costs than enumerated above to be sold here, yet impose no tariffs on them. How can Detroit compete with that ?
The Japanese and European governments subsidize their manufacturers, while the U.S. government forces ours to be less competitive. The foreign governments make it impossible via restrictions for our cars to be sold there.
Why doesn't the Governor of Michigan or the President of the UAW take out full page ads in the major newspapers across the country to urge Americans to buy American cars ? Can you imagine how strong the U.S. economy would be if every Toyota Camry on the road was instead a Chevy Malibu, every Honda Accord was a Ford Fusion and every Hyundai Sonata was a Dodge Avenger ?

[TuffG929]

Originally Posted by t-rex

Washington didn't tell Detroit to focus solely on profitable trucks.

Washington pushed fuel economy regulations that encouraged downsizing. They also pushed saftey regs that would make cars heavier and more expensive. At the same time, they offered tax breaks to consumers who opted for SUVS. It's not hard to see how the law may have played a role.

Originally Posted by t-rex

Washington didn't tell Detroit to ignore market trends.

Right, and we all know that until recently, the market was generally trending towards trucks and SUVS. The way i see it, they didn't ignore the trend.

Originally Posted by t-rex

Washington didn't tell Detroit to lag behind in quality and technology for so long.

Can't argue with that. It was just poor decision making.

Originally Posted by t-rex

Seems NOBODY but Detroit's big 3 are crying about CAFE. And there are several car companies that don't exactly specialize in high-MPG lineups!

This is where you are dead wrong. Toyota, the company that recently opened a brand new truck plant, is strongly lobbying against CAFE. You can look it up, i'm not wrong.

While i am never one two point fingers, I think we have to remember that it's not always as easy as black and white. There is a bit a a gray area that is often overlooked. [/My Two Pennies]

[CJ Thunder]

Was Honda crying when US automakers were making a killing on SUVs and trucks?

[GMusa]

If it comes down to that.. Washington is going to HAVE to help save Detroit. I mean come on can you imagine what would happen without the Big3 ?!? Our country would be in a world of hurt!

[TuffG929]

Originally Posted by CJ Thunder

Was Honda crying when US automakers were making a killing on SUVs and trucks?

No, instead they introduced the pilot, element, and ridgeline, and they made ther CR-V bigger. Now their half-assed attempts at light utilities, are paying off for them.

Nobody cries that honda sells too many cr-v's

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by CJ Thunder

Was Honda crying when US automakers were making a killing on SUVs and trucks?

No.
Because they didn't believe in compromising their corporate values.
And while they saw some benefit in the big SUV/truck market, they were very conservative in their ventures in that market.

Ultimately, it proved to be a worthy strategy because they didn't compromise their values as a company.
That's how great brands survive and earn respect.