Topic: Detroit 3 is Lobbying For Federal Loans

[99 Silver]

This sounds pretty serious:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008808050401

[Serniter]

So taxpayers are going to pay for these cars whether they want to or not.

[Ice]

It does sound serious.  I guess the argument can be made that if the auto industry collapses it'll be a pretty hard blow to an already soft economy.  Might be worth a little short term expense...but if I were the government I'd be laying down the rules and telling GM and Ford in particular to continue to shape up and be more responsible.  I think both companies get it...now...but they need to be reminded.  GM needs more well designed vehicles like the Malibu and Ford needs those EU design teams for North America.  The EU team or Mazda...or someone.

[mmret]

Might be worth a little short term expense...but if I were the government I'd be laying down the rules and telling GM and Ford in particular to continue to shape up and be more responsible.  I think both companies get it...now...but they need to be reminded.  GM needs more well designed vehicles like the Malibu and Ford needs those EU design teams for North America.  The EU team or Mazda...or someone.

Such an idealist.

[Wolfe]

Might be worth a little short term expense...but if I were the government I'd be laying down the rules and telling GM and Ford in particular to continue to shape up and be more responsible.  I think both companies get it...now...but they need to be reminded.  GM needs more well designed vehicles like the Malibu and Ford needs those EU design teams for North America.  The EU team or Mazda...or someone.

Such an idealist.

I'd use a rather different term to describe that sort of "idealism." 

[smok]

It does sound serious.  I guess the argument can be made that if the auto industry collapses it'll be a pretty hard blow to an already soft economy.  Might be worth a little short term expense...but if I were the government I'd be laying down the rules and telling GM and Ford in particular to continue to shape up and be more responsible.  I think both companies get it...now...but they need to be reminded.  GM needs more well designed vehicles like the Malibu and Ford needs those EU design teams for North America.  The EU team or Mazda...or someone.

Yea, it's serious.  They (the Detroit 3 - D3) have never made money on smaller vehicles.  Their profits came from relatively low tech body on frame SUVs and Trucks.  They decided to burn that cash, and not invest on smaller offerings. The gov't will help them indirectly.  The problem is that they still have the same 'yes, yes, yes' execs at the top.  And the inflexible UAW that still thinks it's the 1970's.

[Wolverine]

I wouldn't worry that much. IIRC the japanese gov has been doing this for years with their domestics. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[EV Dan]

I have a solution. Let them mandatory unionize all the import makers in the States (and here)  That should make the field leveled for the game. Then we will see who is competitive. 

[toolatecrew]

Hmmm they can't entice even people who can buy big 3 vehicles at family pricing to buy new ones for themselves so they will take it out of our tax dollars to support them?

Interesting if you can't make a profit we'll take the $ from people who make a concious choice not to buy your product (in the form of taxes) to see you survive. Nice