Around here (Red State) it's always blamed on Unions. Lazy greedy Union workers (Aka Communist Democrats) wrecking the Auto industry making it impossible to compete.

Personally, I like the direction that cars are going, problem is they are seeming too little, too late. During the 90's they just handed the efficient car market over to the competition and concentrated more and more on trucks and SUV's... and that has come back to bite them in the butt.

Free Market!

No one would like to take the resposibility for the demise of the Automotive sector. I feel, management as well as the unions - both need to look for their rold for the present situation. We run our household within our budget and may be keep a penny in savings. Just look at these companies balance sheets for the last number of years - all those employee benefits, pensions, hourly wages, VIAGRA, bonuses!!! Hey, if you are not making money, close the shop. Dont just go on begging, when you did not take responsibility for your our finances. Most business do not keep their shops open if they are not able to make profit, live within their means - they close the shop and find something else to make their living. This is a free market - if you cannot sell a product at a resonable price, and still make money; well someone else will!!!

Since the Oil Companies and the Amerikan Kar Companies (as in AKC) have essentially a symbiotic relationship, why not let THEM bail out their fellow parasites?

snuppy

Most of the people who trash talk the big 3 have little or no actual knowledge on the auto industry.

Firstly the quality gap. The industry is very competitive and has come a long way in the last 10 years. In fact, The difference between the quality of the worse car and best car made in 2008 is almost unmeasurable in JD power and consumer report surveys. Ford is tied with Toyota in quality, and is ABOVE honda in overal quality according to JD power and consumer reports.

Secondly, hybrids: As mentioned above GM produces more hybrid vehicles than any other company on the planet, has a very fuel efficient auto line up as well as large trucks for people who NEED trucks. Now all you people living on the west and east coast may not realize that trucks are essential for many americans and their jobs.

Thirdly, technology: The New 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid beats the Toyota Camry Hybrid by over 5 mpg in fuel economy, while still being comparable in size.

Also the GM Chevrolet Suburban and Caddillac Escalade Hybrids save more fuel in a year over their standard models than a Camry Hybrid saves over the standard Camry. Now people typically only buy these super large SUVs out of absolute need, such as a large family.

Also the Chevrolet Suburban Hybrid is the only hybrid that is economically feasible to buy.

Hybrids are nice, just like it is cool to have a V8 to go fast, some find it cool to have a hybrid to save gas. However on an economics stand point, a hybrid is as economical in saving gas as buying a fast v8 mustang is in saving time (getting to work faster), you don't save any money with a hybrid....

This is why the GM ceos 15 years ago thought that hybrids were not economical. Also for those not in the auto world, it takes a very long time to create a new product, when GM decided to go Hummer route instead of electric cars, gas was 80 cents a gallon.... it wasn't rocket science...

It seems to me the auto companies have been run as well and the banks and investment industry. OH, that's not so good is it!
What I want to know is why we hand over 700 billion to the banking industry with no strings attached but we want to set rules for the auto industry for 25 billion. Guess the bankers have better lobbyists.

You should read the newest article posted on Justice Times about how to fix the American Auto Industry.

http://justicetimes.com/?p=1463

Wow !! A little vacation did you a world of good, Mark.
I'm going to send that to my Congressional Represenatives.
Everybody has their hands out for OUR money. Enough already !!!

Ford, GM and Mopar, let them die!

Give them the money they need - BUT forbid them from making gas-only engines EVER AGAIN. OH - and no bonuses for big wigs, no golden parachutes - pay based on performance just like the factory workers, no private jets - commercial ONLY and in coach. INNOVATE dammit! There is so much they can do - but with Bush - we have let the world pass us by in every way when it comes to innovation and greening of America. We are SO behind the ball. We gotta get on the stick.

If the U.S. auto companies continue with the same product lines of gas-guzzling autos, they are asking for their own demise. Their existence is due to historically cheap gas. With Peak Oil determined to have begun in 2005 and no new findings of easy oil in the world, we shouldn't bail them out; we should divert their begging to the profitable oil companies instead. However, to cut them some slack, there is no infrastructure for them to build cars that run on different fuel: natural gas, biofuels, a new electric grid that can sustain plug-ins. But still, they should produce efficient cars based on new CAFE standards.

Although the US auto giants are admittedly starved for innovation, it's not the main reason they're tanking.

Fact one is that people simply aren't buying cars. Any cars. Toyota, Honda, Ford, and beyond. It's widely accepted that big-ticket items are the first to go during a recession. And make no mistake about it: the US stands on the cusp of the worst financial meltdown in its storied history, bar none.

Fact two is that the Big 3 have crippling legacy costs. The healthcare benefits, bloated pensions, corporate bureaucracies, CEO salaries, union support costs they've accrued over the years are staggering. Most people are shocked to learn that a machinist working the GM assembly line makes as much as $85.00 US/hour. The result of all of this: premium price tags for less-than-premium cars. The Japanese and European automakers have always made quality their hallmark. If money is tight and Japanese quality costs the same as American quality, why would Americans purchase inferior 'Big 3' products to finance $85.00 US/hour machinists and mega-million CEOs?

Fact three is that lack of consumer confidence snowballs. Who in their right mind will buy a car from a company that may not be around to service its vehicles in six months?

The no-innovation fixation of the Big 3 is certainly a contributor to their downfall, but oil lows haven't had the least effect in bolstering sales. Average Joe Consumer doesn't care about the environment. He doesn't care about 30 MPG versus 32 MPG when he's making a decision to buy a Ford Focus or a Toyota Corolla. He cares about the fact that the Toyota is less expensive, higher quality, and serviceable by a company that will actually exist in six months.

If those dummies think they can sell gas guzzling SUV's in this recession after the horror of four dollar a gallon gas then they shouldn't be allowed to reproduce so think next generation won't be so so stupid. If the government has to buy them out to save millions of U.S. jobs then they should be fired without giving them a red cent.

My family has always be loyal to the Japanese label anyway, there the one's developing the electric cars and they employ millions of American's as well.

If the big three don't get on the hybrid bandwagon then they are going to eventually die, because when we get out of this recession, five dollars a gallon is back!

The big three certainly made HUGE mistakes, but testla is also having trouble.

SUVs might be the right thing to do in the long run if someone can figure out how to scrap that huge engine and replace it with enough batteries to run an e-car on... Otherwise, they are the only vehicle big enough to sleep a family of 4 in as the housing market crashes.

- StupidPeopleTrick

The new animation is up and running. Happy driving!

-Mark Fiore