Why Detroit Tanked

[hafoc]

During the first big oil crisis, back before most people reading this were alive, Ford said "Americans don't want small cars." Then they gave us the Pinto. After a few years, Ford said "See? We told you so."

And Chevrolet said "Americans don't want small cars." Then they gave us the Vega. After a few years, Chevrolet said "See? We told you so."

And Toyota said "Hmmm... maybe Americans WILL buy a small car if it's good." Then they gave us the Corolla. After a few years, Toyota said "See? We told you so."

Today Toyota is the biggest auto manufacturer in the world. And the executives at Ford and Chevrolet (the ones that still have jobs) are standing around with that deer-in-the-headlights look in their eyes, saying "We just don't understand what happened! The 1957 Chevrolets we are building today are the best 1957 Chevrolets ever! Why won't people buy them?"

Comments

Toy-Ota

[akktri.livejournal.com]

This message is brought to you by Toyota. "Toyota value is down, right American?"
:P

Re: Toy-Ota

[hafoc.livejournal.com]

Pains me, makes me FURIOUS, this situation does. Much of my family works or did work for the US auto industry. I drive a Ford, myself. But the Three Who Were Once Big have been so bullheadedly stupid for so long that it exceeds even my ability to apologize for it.

It's a sad state of affairs when the industry's only hope of survival is that they'll have higher mileage standards rammed down their throats by a bunch of crooked pols in Washington. You've become pretty damned stupid when even Congress can see what's in your interest better than you can.

Re: Toy-Ota

[akktri.livejournal.com]

Well. It certainly is a problem.