I attended an Alternative Fuel Seminar for the Automotive Industry September 2007 at the University of Michigan where Research and Development Managers discussed their alternative fuels and product lines with managers attending from Ford, GM, Chrysler, Toyota and Honda, as well as many scientists from the University of Michigan. It was a sad look into the problems they faced and this was my impression of the automotive companies and their presentations. I now consider it foreshadowing of what we see this year, 2008.
Ann Arbor is a wonderful place for green discussions; whether it is the greenbelt they are discussing or the cars of the future. I attended an automotive seminar regarding the alternative fuels what vechiles exists today and in the future. This was a look into the future at the end of the year when Ford, GM and Chrysler are all in financial trouble and it could cause a much worse recession for all of us if one or more goes into bankruptcy.
A Toyota representative was there and looking very calm...and his presentation and profit success was from the Prius. The Big 3 presentation was not impressive and the American auto companies were blaming the "fickle public" for their lack of profit.
Ford, GM and Chrysler should have owned up to their lack of progress and explained how they would improve in the future. The managers were Lawrence Burns (VP of R&D at GM) and Nancy Gioia (Director of R & D Hybrid technology at Ford) and other speakers as well.
Why did Ford put all their eggs in the gas guzzling basket? They continued to produce supercharged muscle car (Mustang), huge pickups and SUVs and no development in a smaller vechile which could be fuel-efficient and/or another that is elegant as well as fuel efficient.
Ford's only fuel-efficient car at this time was the Focus, which lost money each time they sold one. They have since introduced the miniSUV's that are Hybrids.
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. The automotive management engineers place the blame in the public and with this attitude there is no wonder they are in the position of bankruptcy today.
Ford and GM continued to blame the public for their poor performance (GM & Ford) instead of taking responsibility for lack of vision and their slow 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 and Honda are eating their lunch in profit as well as sales. The Prius is extremely successful; you can not dispute this fact.
We, the public are choosing the more fuel efficient cars and management of the American auto manufacturers are finally aware they must change if they will be with us in the future. The profitable automotive companies are reaping the benefits and so far American manufacturers are not doing so well.
Sadly this all gets back to Michigan as well as the whole country 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?
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