18th Mar 2011, 01:57
Many good points here. Really, I don't care whether the manufacturer's head quarters is located in the US or elsewhere. Where cars are made differs. I don't have the complete picture on Ford, but GM is making most of its volume selling cars elsewhere.
Car manufacturing has really become a global business. The Chevrolet Aveo and Cruze are not even Chevrolets, but Daewoos with Chevrolet logos glued onto them. They are not designed or engineered in the US, or built in the US, so how does it help the US economy to buy one of these cars? Especially compared to my Toyotas that are largely designed and engineered in the US, and entirely built in the US.
18th Mar 2011, 15:33
Not sure what that has to do with the argument, because most companies get their business from global trade. Besides - where your company is based and the products it builds are two totally different things: An American company that builds American-made products is every bit as liable to go out of business from domestic competition. A perfect example is the US auto industry during the teen's and 20's. At one point there were over 200 automakers in the US. Ultimately over 90% of those companies went out of business and only the "Big 3" were left, because they were the most successful. If a company goes out of business, it's not necessarily because it fell at the hands of a foreign competitor.
The bottom line is that it's a global economy out there. If you build a solid, reliable, desirable product then you will be successful. If you develop a negative reputation for building shoddy products, then you will stand a greater chance for negative economic outcomes.
19th Mar 2011, 11:44
You can have a great reputation and customer service until someone taps on the Internet and finds a cheaper source. Many great businesses are gone in our city. People shop hard on cars too. Go on the Internet, click on a 200 mile radius and email your price.
19th Mar 2011, 12:29
Very good point. Millions of U.S. jobs have been lost by our ambivalent attitude, that where a product is made or where the company is based does not matter. It DOES matter, especially if it is the company you happen to work for. The U.S. auto industry is responsible for 90% of all auto-related jobs in the U.S. Somehow people just cannot seem to understand that buying a Toyota or Honda only helps a tiny handful of U.S. citizens, while buying a domestic helps 9 out of 10. I would much prefer not to endanger the lifestyles of 90% of my friends and neighbors, just to drive a cheaper vehicle that is not nearly as well built.
20th Mar 2011, 10:10
Yeah, and where were you 30 years ago? Why are you suddenly campaigning against foreign competition? Do you own 100% American goods in your household? Seems that the auto industry is everyone's last stand to American manufacturing. Maybe if they had competed better decades ago, Toyota and Honda wouldn't have the loyal following they now have.
GM is still living in the past as far as I'm concerned. I wish they had failed. Maybe they would be coming up with better than an overpriced hybrid and an imported econobox for fuel efficient cars by now, had they had to work for something for once!
Blind support of incompetence is only prolonging the inevitable. To pretend you are saving so many jobs by supporting domestic auto companies may be fine for you, but I need vehicles that deliver high quality for a good price. Imports do just that. GM will once again be struggling as gas eclipses the $4 mark. They have made no real gains in technology and fuel savings. The big SUV's became popular again when gas sunk below $3 per gallon, so they still make all the same models they did before the last meltdown. This time it will probably hit $5 per gallon! So yeah, we'll all be supporting them soon enough with another government bailout. Mark my words... it is coming.
Also, why do you keep going on about a "tiny handful" of American jobs at import companies. I think there are more than a tiny handful of import car company jobs here in the U.S. If you compare them to the number of Canadian and Mexican jobs the domestic companies provide, then I guess the number would be small to you. Of course you are okay supporting a business that has to use outsourcing to survive, instead of coming up with real solutions to make their businesses more viable... whatever.
20th Mar 2011, 18:52
What is wrong with making cars in Canada? It still helps the North American economy, and Canadians are people who buy a lot of domestic cars themselves. It is still much better than supporting a company not even based in North America.
21st Mar 2011, 07:30
You are getting confused. We are talking about the American auto industry and NOT the North American auto industry. How is making cars in Canada, Mexico and Germany helping save U.S. auto worker jobs??? People truly only believe what they want to believe.
21st Mar 2011, 09:35
A car is the second most expensive item bought besides a home. We have 3 new domestics. Buying a new car is significantly more than a foreign made toaster, TV or iron in one's home. I left imports over poor quality even more than the economy. I drove high end imports when they were low production and lasted better for us.
21st Mar 2011, 10:41
While I myself am a Toyota owner, I would disagree with you that GM doesn't have cars and trucks that are fuel efficient, or that they are ill-prepared for a rise in fuel prices. The Cruze, which they came out with this year, gets over 40MPG. That's rather impressive. That and it's actually a pretty nice looking car. I dare say that if I were looking for a new small car, it would be on my list - which is a vote of confidence for them, because a few years ago they made nothing that I found appealing. They have a smaller car coming out called the Sonic that will also get excellent fuel economy.
The Volt is a technological marvel that I've been following for years. No other car company has a vehicle like this. Sure - it's a little pricey, but apparently the demand has been high.
In regards to only buying American because it supposedly supports American workers, that is not an issue here. As mentioned tirelessly on this site, the auto industry is truly a global one. For example - GM had to temporarily close a truck plant in Louisiana because the trucks being built there use some parts from Japan. The Ram 4500/5500 chassis cabs use Japanese transmissions Aisin. On the other hand, BMW has had a few models that use GM transmissions.
Lastly, all automakers at this point have manufacturing facilities all over the world. That includes not only the parts makers - many of them both foreign and domestic - but the assembly lines themselves that put together the vehicles. Any vehicle that you buy today is going to be produced using a mixed bag of foreign and domestically produced components, and they could be from any number of factories around the world.
Thus it's not a black and white yes or no answer. If you buy a Toyota, you're supporting US workers. If you buy a GM or Ford product - then again, you're supporting US workers.
17th Mar 2011, 20:24
Yet another way is to consider where your paycheck comes from, and will it continue with that viewpoint. It may end tomorrow if your employer has lack of business to support you any further.