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What's The Plan Stan? or Using too much gas?

Ann Arbor is a wonderful place for green discussions; whether it is the greenbelt they are discussing or the cars of the future. This is a great forum I attended and the blog I wrote about the American car manufacturers. Let me tell you a Toyota rep was there and looking very calm...can't say as I blame them. Wish the American car manufacturers would learn from the marketing to the clients that Toyota knows so well.

I attended the cars and was surprised by the end of the forum that the representatives from the auto companies are still blaming the "fickle public" for their lack of profit. Wouldn't you think they should own up to their lack of progress and then explain how they will improve in the future? No! This was not true for Lawrence Burns (VP of R&D GM) or Nancy Gioia (Director of R & D Hybrid technology Ford) and other speakers as well.

Questions we should have asked: why did Ford put all their eggs in the gas guzzling basket: supercharged muscle car (mustang), big honkin pickups and SUVs?

Their only fuel-efficient car with any brand is the Focus, which lost money each time they sold one.

Toward the end of the presentation there was a comment from the audience member who suggested the auto companies were reluctant to install seat belts years ago and a very terse answer came from one of the panelists. I felt it continued blaming the public for the car companies poor performance (GM & Ford) instead of taking responsibility for lack of vision and their slow to reaction to consumer demand. The bad news for American manufacturers is that there exists a company who looks ahead and does the R & D for the future and develops cars people want; Toyota is eating their lunch in profit as well as sales. The Pruis is sooooo successful; you can not dispute this fact.

I'm a marketing person, not a R & D person; but one thing holds true: we, the public are choosing and the profitable automotive companies are reaping the benefits and so far American manufacturers are not doing so well. (Sorry, buy Toyota is eating GM & Ford's lunch!)

Sadly this all gets back to Michigan and our state of the economy and therefore...the housing market.

When will we turn around our economy? Will we be producing wonderful alternative fuel cars in the future? What are your thoughts?

Posted by Karen Moorhead Ann Arbor Area Real Estate on 09/16/2007 08:09 AM

Comments (13)

michigan housing market cars green hybrid

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13 Comments on What's The Plan Stan? or Using too much gas?

Its sad when businesses blame their consumers for their failures.

I've always believed in free markets, and have always voted with my pocketbook to support the BEST items in the marketplace, no matter their origin. But then it's been obvious to me we have been living in a global market for sometime.

I wish there was an easy answer for the US car companies.

09/16/2007 08:26 AM

by Sam White, College Station Texas Real Estate (Keller Williams Realty Brazos Valley)

Sam,

Very well said! Problem is in Michigan this may be a very sore topic. I'll go to your website and see where you are located.

09/16/2007 08:31 AM

by Karen Moorhead Ann Arbor Area Real Estate (Keller Williams Realty)

Karen, part and a big part of the problems is the UAW and the contacts. Look at what is happening right now with GM and the Union. They just don't get it. That's whay large companies are leaving and going to states with NO income tax and No small business tax. I love Ann Arbor, but enough is enough, how much longer can we stand this. I hate politics so my two cents.

09/16/2007 08:35 AM

by Missy Caulk Ann Arbor Real Estate (Keller Williams Ann Arbor, Michigan)

I know you are right Missy. Boy is it sad when we have great companies leave because we are not competitive as a state. Something has to change. We need to deversify our county and our state's businesses.

09/16/2007 08:41 AM

by Karen Moorhead Ann Arbor Area Real Estate (Keller Williams Realty)

Karen, I don't think I'll see much progress in the auto industry in my lifetime. The auto makers make what they THINK we want, NOT what we want. Ask them for "green" cars and their minds go blank. And of course its all our fault for not buying what we don't want. I think a lot of car selection is picking something you really don't want but its as close as you can get to your ideal. The auto makers were the ones that poo-pooed the low resistance tires years ago when Michelin developed them. They just might save the consumer some gas. Can't have that now can we? My husband is from Norway, and for example, a Tahoe imported there must get a minimum of 42 mpg. WHAT? Chevy says that can't be done! Unless of course they want to sell in a market that demands it! I say the auto makers and the oil companies are sleeping with each other. Till they get a divorce, nothing much will change.

09/17/2007 09:19 PM

by Terry Haugen STAGE it RIGHT! 321-956-2495 (Stage it Right!)

The auto industry is a big lobby -- and it is difficult to deal with. I do think that some of the companies are geener than others -- but the truth is the stockholders want a certain return on their investment -- and most of those stockholders are not that green.

09/17/2007 09:46 PM

by Joan Whitebook, ABR, e-Pro, CEBA (Buyer's Option Realty Services)

Karen - interesting points you bring up. It is unfortunate but true. I had an associate tell me of a friend who is an exec at one of the big 3. He has a special part in his truck that he gets 60+ MPG (I forget the exact number I was given.) Evidently they have had the technology for years, just choose not to use it.

The Big 3 will never be the same and they have left a path of destruction in their wake. I would like to see Michigan get more into Renewable Energy Industries...Lord knows we have enough empty manufacturing buildings sitting vacant to house the new companies. Our state government needs to get on board with it and make Michigan a more friendly place for companies to live. Rather than more taxation they need to start cleaning their own house and cut out the fat. It's going to take time but we will bounce back again!

09/17/2007 09:53 PM

by Mary Bigelow, Renewing Your Life! (GreenLife Homes/ Contractor's Building Supply)

Mary, Joan and Terry,

I love the comments you have made here and I'm going to take a few minutes to look at each of your websites and because the comments you have made are so important and they make me feel like I'm not the only one. There are others out there as well that think this auto thing is just craziness. That we don't have better mass transit for our cities, our cars aren't getting better milage...I could go on on and on. thank you for your comments! I'm not alone.

09/18/2007 05:16 PM

by Karen Moorhead Ann Arbor Area Real Estate (Keller Williams Realty)

NO Karen you are not alone. There are thousands of us out here agonizing over what we see and know! Unfortunately our voices are not being heard, YET!

09/18/2007 09:17 PM

by Terry Haugen STAGE it RIGHT! 321-956-2495 (Stage it Right!)

Solar, they need to make a solar car in my opinion. But how oh how will the government tax the sun?

09/18/2007 10:22 PM

by Dena Stevens ~ Ecobroker ~So. Colorado Realtor (Colorado Western Real Estate)

Dena, the government doesnt tax the oil industry nor the car makers, in fact big oil gets subsidies from the government. If they don't tax them you can be sure they will try to tax the sun, or at least us!

09/19/2007 01:05 PM

by Terry Haugen STAGE it RIGHT! 321-956-2495 (Stage it Right!)

Karen, Michigan is really missing the boat. By the time they turn around we'll have lost another 100,000 residents and the rest will be making squat in the "service economy"

09/20/2007 05:41 PM

by Gary Smith, Realtor® (The Michigan Group - Livingston)

Gary, I hold out hope for better for the MI residents. I know many need to look for other careers...I know it oh so well. Also believe the high salaries are to be had, for those who work...and work hard.

09/20/2007 07:38 PM

by Karen Moorhead Ann Arbor Area Real Estate (Keller Williams Realty)

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