If you want a preview of how your elected representatives are going to approach the $50b Detroit bailout (a.k.a. “Retooling for Tools”), you could do worse than read this Washington Post diatribe by economist Steven Pearlstein. “The Road to a Bailout They Don’t Deserve” begins by giving The Big 2.8 a right royal pasting. “Even before top industry executives arrive in Washington later this month to lobby for their program, General Motors’ vice chairman, Robert Lutz, who never misses an opportunity to put his foot in his mouth, was telling reporters in Chicago last week that the industry ‘deserves’ government loans because of all the challenges that have been inflicted upon it. In fact, it’s hard to imagine an industry less deserving of government help.” Other barrel: “Here are three companies that for decades failed to produce cars that were well designed, well produced and exciting to look at, that fought tooth and nail against efforts to require greater fuel efficiency and, until recently, did too little to bring wages, benefits and retiree costs in line with competitive realities. And while they whined for years that it was unfair trade that put them at a disadvantage, Toyota, Honda, BMW and other foreign transplants came along to prove that it is possible to produce quality cars at affordable prices in U.S. factories while offering decent wages and benefits.” And just when you think Pearlstein’s going to lower the boom, he says giving Detroit the money is “probably the wise thing to do.” Probably? How great is that?
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I work for an Tier 1 supplier, and I’m steadfastly against this bailout, though it may, from an overly simplistic veiw, seem to help in the short term.
In the long term, there has to be a natural capitalist cycle of consolidation in the industry to strengthen everyone remaining. Otherwise, its like piling up more kindling in a dried up forest, eventually we’ll all burn. The Detroit 2.8 need to become the Detroit 2. Does it suck, yes, are some people going to be screwed in the deal, yes, but otherwise the American auto industry will continue to decline. It’s an economy of scale business, Chryerbus, I’m looking your way.
It’s not even just the United States.
Suzuki (despite being #1 in sales in both Japan, a stagnant market – and more importantly, #1 in sales in India – a huge, growing market) would be very very wise to consider merging with a company which has experience in areas where Suzuki are lacking, and which would be a good tie-in to garner the probable next-wave (beyond hybrids), that is, electric cars.
That other company is Mitsubishi. Then, take the corporate name and call it Suzuki-Mitsubishi, and take the Mitsubishi names off the cars and badge everything world-wide as Suzuki. (Much as Daimler-Benz did in 1923 when it merged; Daimler cars were no longer built, Mercedes-Benz cars were).
Suzuki (merged with Mitsubishi) could be the “next” Honda, having motorcycles, scooters, outboard motors, etc. etc., and a lot of expertise in small cars, and Mitsubishi would bring expertise on sporty cars, larger vehicles, electric propulsion to the marriage.
Chrysler is toast.
No bailouts until after the the 2.8 file C11, hire new management and void all employment contracts with current management.
If you like that photo, then you will love “The Gallery of Transport Loss” run by a little cargo insurance company out of Los Angeles. Very old fashioned web site, but they get all the best photos from ship, train, and airplane mishaps, often from the very people involved.
I suspect some in the print media are pro-Detroit bailout because they themselves (the cratering newspaper business) will eventually want a bailout.
I can see some sort of BBC like tax going to failing news organizations under an Obama administration.
Suzuki and Mitsubishi HAS to become…..
Sushi.