Auto Industry: Who Gains From Detroit’s Pain

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"if gm closes all its lants and the japanese openm plants it would create jobs
BUT IT WOULD/T MAKE UP THE 250,000 WORKERS OUT OF WORK WOULD IT ??

jules of FL 12:05PM January 08, 2009

I am tired of reading these "professional" bloggers who shift their position as often as the automakers and the politicians. Rick is consistently anti american in his auto sentiments, however, and I find it offensive that he fails to present ALL the facts.
GM should realize being number 1 in sales does not equal profitability. Subaru is a great example of that.
Ford should keep moving in the direction they are going in.
Chrysler should get bought out/sold off, preferably by a US company.
80% of the profit from the sale of a Big 3 vehicle applies to our GNP. 15% from foreign vehicles. Why wouldn't we protect ourselves?
In December 2008 GM sales were off 32 percent. TOYOTA WAS OFF 36%!!!!!!
Give us all the facts, not the ones that make you feel better about the car YOU are driving.

Bill Tompkins of NJ 11:57AM January 08, 2009

Newman must be in bed with all of the other Toytoa Republicans. His articles are biased toward Jap companies.

Tommy of TX 4:33AM January 08, 2009

Last time I saw my old VW bug it had 420,000 miles on it with no major work. I drove it up to 320,000 miles and never had to spend a nickel on repairs. I bought a new Toyota Land Cruiser in 1985 and sold it ten years later for $100 less than what I paid new. Once again, I didn't spend a cent on repairs. It ran perfectly when I sold it and it looked new. In the same ten years I drove the Land Cruiser my brother went thru four jeeps. All of them turned to trash around 50,000 miles.

James Mason of AK 9:23PM December 21, 2008

One problem with relying on foreign vehicle production is that while the wages stay in USA the profits go off shore. There is also the defense production need. Who builds the tanks, trucks etc. if the USA needs that production for defense?
So if the USA can get rid of the loser management of the failing Detroit companies it will enhance USA defense strength.

Albert Colangelo of FL 11:21PM December 20, 2008

I think everyone is a little bit crazy.. if you think that the auto industry failure at any level would be a good thing then pack your stuff and I will meet you in the breadline at your local soup kitchen. guess what pulled the us out of the great depression and the recession of the 80's? Industry. And when a country fails to produce an industry, it fails. Russia is a great example. They have farming,livestock, even oil. Look at their economy and then look in a mirror. that is where we are headed. what you should ask is why bailout the banks? They are the ones that created this mess to begin with. The Big three is asking for a loan, not a gift. Oh guess what?!? chrysler is shutting down for a month lets see what that does for the economy. I think we need leadership from the autos to go to washington and say hey boys we are shutting down indefinately. All of our employees, supplier employees, their suppliers, the banks, the store employees, local grocers and gift shops, you name it.. they are all laid off and now you handle it. Hoffa would have handled the senators this way and now i think it is time for the big three to do the same. I pray we don't see another great depression, but let our major industry fail, you might just as well start farming. The south will rise again! with the help of japanese FOREIGN automakers, good luck. and when they decide that they want to move back to japan after the economy fails here, i will be the first to say HA! Merry Christmas everyone.. Looks like you are going to get your wish. M A N Y H A P P Y RETURNS. I have an idea, go to wall mart and buy some chinese crap laced with melamine and lead... go to grandma and grandpas house and ask them where toys used to come from, and about the good ole days of yester year and ask them about the depression!

p of MI 4:17PM December 18, 2008

If 4-5 million units of capacity disappears overnight where does this supply come from? Try plants in Japan, Europe, Korea, and China that are underutilized and with a trained work force. Not to mention government subsidies and support. Even, if transplants expand what happens to prices for vehicles that they do produce in the US or overseas. Sounds like free-market supply and demand from our political leaders. Only the taxes and profits from these higher prices are not going to fund unemployment, social security, or US workers. Just a thought.

Rich of MI 9:48PM December 10, 2008

and a player to be named later

of 2:14PM December 10, 2008

I am a machenist in michigan and have been for 13 yrs. everyone in the country is being told over and over that the people working for the big 3 are making 100k+ a year but that is not true. the truth is about 6000 people make over 100k+ and thay are skilled labor. machine builders, die designers, engenners and such. the millionar ceos are also part of the 600 people that is complaned about in the media. now lets look at whos really gets hurt if just one of the big 3 were to go bankrupt. first the production workers ( thay make 18-23$ an hour) will loose there jobs and pentions that thay have worked there live for. Whos going to take care of this baby boomer rich work force if the compant thay worked for is gone? second about 350,000 people, myself included will be put on the unimployment line because of the loose of big 3 contracts that are lost. thats 350,000 men and woman that have familes to suport. who will take care of our kids? some people will lead you to beleave that toyota and honda sale will go up and mid west automakers will be used to fill the demand for workers at companys with those contracts but, that is a 100 year old way of thinking because when orders go up today in automated factorys a diel is turned and a button is pushed and more car parts are made. simply put if toyota and honda had work for the mid west autoworker thay would have given us the contracts years ago, The us can't aford to let any of the automakers fail.

dan o of MI 4:53PM December 05, 2008

Seems to me that a combination of stupid and greed are a recipe for disaster.
We can't fix "stupid"...but we can replace them.
As for "greed"...the UAW should be slapped to their knees and FORCED to renegotiate the autoworkers's labor contracts, or be dismantled and cast into the trashpile (along with the fired management).
Folks, the US economy is seriously challenged and may not survive. US citizens should be strapped with the requirement to fix this when the auto industry, along with their UAW bretheren have caused this.
I say let those who caused the problem fix it.

Iggy1962 of AL 3:02PM December 05, 2008