The Top Ten Cars That Help Explain The Demise of Detroit, and The Possible Revival of the Big Three
Submitted by CARPE DIEM
The global financial crisis is suffocating the Detroit automakers, but the problems have been festering for years—even when the mighty “Big Three” were earning billions. Aging factories, inflexible unions, arrogant executives and shoddy quality have all damaged Detroit. Now, with panicky consumers fleeing showrooms, catastrophe looms: Without a dubious federal bailout, all three automakers face the prospect of bankruptcy.
There will be plenty of business-school case studies analyzing all the automakers’ wrong turns. But, as they say in the industry, it all comes down to product. So here are 10 cars that help explain the demise of Detroit (including the Ford Pinto, pictured above).
The road to recovery in Detroit is so long and pitted that General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler might not all make it. Billions in federal aid will help. But the government doesn’t build cars, and without top products in the most important segments, the Detroit Three will continue to flounder while the Japanese and Europeans surge ahead. Here are ten cars that are key to the revival of the domestic automakers (including the Chevy Volt pictured below).
HT: Ben Cunningham at Taxing Tennessee
