GM, Chrysler May Face Bankruptcy to Protect U.S. Debt

[bullmoose88]

Time to let them go, I think.

We still have Ford anyway.  The auto companies don't need bailouts.  They just need to grow a pair and stand up to the UAW.

Or maybe make cars that people want to buy.

^^^^^^^^

precisely.

The biggest mistake in analysis is believing that American car companies make cars people don't want to buy.  The fact in this economic downturn is that Japanese car companies have gotten killed just as badly as American companies in terms of sales, and in many cases are actually faring worse.

The problem is the "cost structure" of the American car companies, plain and simple.

So why is that then? I mean, foreign cars are usually pretty clearly of higher quality. Do people feel some type of loyalty towards American built cars?

Get rid of the union chokehold, then they could afford to make better cars for the same price.

While the unions obviously contribute to the financial problems of the automakers, I doubt that has much to do with the quality of their products. Look at Germany, and it's not like unions are weak.

And yes, I understand, German vehicles are more expensive....but if you add all things together (especially considering expensive gasoline as there is in Europe), you probably get a better deal by buying them.

One thing that people need, though, is a good public transport system....and that's something many American cities simply don't have.

Well, setting aside the union question for now (Whether German unions are better etc)...its not like BMW or Daimler Benz has to run a healthcare/pension organization for their labor...(I'm sure I'm not the most knowledgable here by far, so correct me if I'm wrong)...so that's one leg up they have on the big three...the german taxpayer is paying for things the Big 3 have to pay for now.

[bullmoose88]

Well, setting aside the union question for now (Whether German unions are better etc)...its not like BMW or Daimler Benz has to run a healthcare/pension organization for their labor...(I'm sure I'm not the most knowledgable here by far, so correct me if I'm wrong)...so that's one leg up they have on the big three...the german taxpayer is paying for things the Big 3 have to pay for now.

Very true. If the government paid for healthcare in the United States, like in other civilized countries, it would save the auto companies billions of dollars.

I'm undecided on the healthcare issue, but I guess one could say that would fall under the pros of nationalized care.  (whether there are other pros, or how good of a pro that is, is a question I dont feel like delving into right now).