NBC REPORT.....US AUTO INDUSTRY AT A CROSSROADS

[JoeG]

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Toyota has captured a big chunk of the market thru quality control and hi-tech cars.

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Here's one for the "Take it for what's it's worth" department, but...

I read a report some time back about build quality and reliability and such...I think it was JD Powers or something...anyway, GM had actually closed the gap and even *surpassed* the usual heavy hitters of Benz, BMW, Lexus...in fact, the report hammered Lexus pretty hard as it had moved considerably down the list. Anyway, while GM's quality and reliability has come a long way, the problem lies in the *perception* of prospective buyers...consumers automatically assume a Lexus or Benz is gonna be more reliable or trouble free than a GM, even though some reports/surveys prove otherwise...the off shore makers have simply raised the bar and forced the domestic brands to either sink or swim.

I wish I could find the article as it was a good read, and was critical of GM *not* because of it's build quality but because of it's lack of efforts at changing the perceptions of consumers.

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That is part of the problem that was mentioned in the report Rob, that it's not gonna be enough for the US auto manufactures to bring their quality control up, which they have, but they will have to surpass the foreign auto makers to convert back the market shares they lost..............It's gonna be tough for US Auto manufacturers, as it stands right now, with these foriegn car transplant facities low production costs vs US Auto plant production costs......

[Late BrakeU2]

Ray Charles could have seen this one coming,why do you think they were snapping pics of everything in sight?

The big three thought denial was a river in Egypt,sat on their hands,and had their pockets pickeds slowly since the Reagan Administration.Pretty pathetic actually.

The good thing is with the Camry entering Nextel cup in 07 it will backfire due to jingoistic pride and all will be right in the kingdom

[JoeG]

Denial is a river in Egypt..
When I was in my late teens I was seeing a girl in South Jersey, and she would kid me about how I would always lock my car door---They didn't lock their car or housedoors---Different times .....As is the US open door policy....It needs updated safeguards.....I'm off my soap box..

[mockingbird812]

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Ray Charles could have seen this one coming,why do you think they were snapping pics of everything in sight?

The big three thought denial was a river in Egypt,sat on their hands,and had their pockets pickeds slowly since the Reagan Administration.Pretty pathetic actually.

The good thing is with the Camry entering Nextel cup in 07 it will backfire due to jingoistic pride and all will be right in the kingdom

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O.K. that hurts my brain. What does this mean?:

" ...it will backfire due to jingoistic pride and all will be right in the kingdom... "

[Late BrakeU2]

Basically that France Jr allowing Toyota to enter cars in the most sacred series in american motorsports could have a potentially damaging effect on Japanese car sales.

If they prove successful(the Tacoma has already won a championship in the NCTS) and best believe they will(because of a virtually unlimited budget thanks to the US pumping billions through car sales to them for years)how will it be recieved at a time when domestic car companies are struggling for survival? It's no fault of the Japanese,they did their homework and built a better product while we were offered world class models like the Pontiac Aztec . This is a very proud country that loves sport.Once the connection is made between Toyota winning races,factories closing,and americans losing jobs you could potentially see a wholesale boycott of Japanese products by the rabid and passionate Nascar fan base and-that is a rather large one.JMHO

[ANDY M]

The Camry is getting into NASCAR because it's the been the best selling car in America for the past 7 years.
Say what you want about NASCAR, but they do understand marketing, and making money.