Learning from the "Big 3s" mistakes
I have to agree with the majority of you in saying that packaging and quality will win over the American consumers in the long run (as proven by Honda and Toyota over the past 20 years). Nonetheless, part of the American public's perception is rooted in recent Chinese product quality scandals (lead paint in toys, etc...) but the other half of the battle is to create distinctive (not repackaged old Hondas or VWs) models to capture the imagination of buyers. Therefore, even the most reliable and safely operated models will not sell if they look like old Japanese models from the decade before. The unique Tang Haus pictured above begin to create this type of niche identity (though they must produce highway going vehicles as well- in spite of the "Big 3s" attempted blockades).
In other words, no-one will rush to buy even the best analogue TV (old technology: gas powered economy car)- when a, perhaps poorer quality HD (newer technology: electric "Green" car) is available for nearly the same price. Just as GM, Ford and Chrysler didn't/wouldn't offer economy cars in the mid seventies and the Japanese grabbed the niche- today China can grab and create it's own "Green" niche. Furthermore, during the "planned obsolescence" years (approx. 1974-1987), the "Big 3" pissed off millions of American buyers by creating mostly defective rust buckets (most were gas guzzlers to boot). Yet, during this same time period, the American public became increasingly aware of the higher quality of Japanese products; this was the double whammy that woke up the "Big 3" 20 years ago and forced them to build better cars. (1988-present)
Likewise, I completely agree that the "Big 3" US companies are in serious trouble for some of the reasons you stated (like banking on pickups and SUVs). However, here's the big picture overview (from someone who's lived it) of the US economy as it evolved over the past 35 years:
Step 1. When corporations realized that is was cheaper to pay politicians (via lobbyists) to approve of their outrageous price increases (public utilities, health care organizations, oil companies, insurance, cable TV, etc...) than to try to justify their greed to the general public, things started a huge downward spiral here for the typical working class Americans. Economists call this the end of American hegemony. (1973-1985)
Step 2. Realizing that they had dug into American bank accounts as far as they could, the corporations started exploring new venues to make money and created the unsustainable rage of "Consumerism". No longer were corporations happy with the traditional 15-25% profits per quarter- they now sought huge gains via publically manipulating perceptions about corporate growth (i.e. the new standard became 50-100% profit reporting per quarter) in order to sell more and more stocks to pad the salaries of the upper escelon management. During this phase "Downsizing" and "Outsourcing" became euphemisms for taking manufacturing jobs out of the US and sending them overseas (in many cases by actually using US tax dollars from these same unemployed families to relocate these jobs). At the same time, the American media advertising blitz pushed everyone to buy today and never think about tomorrow (leading to almost zero savings, huge personal debt rates and the highest divorce rate in the world). (1985-2000)
Step 3. With most middle class Americans living 1-2 paychecks away from bankruptcy, the corporate powers realized the only way to continue the unsustainable growth pattern was to loosen credit standards- while continuing to perpetuate the "American Dream Myth" (which equals 1 house, 2 1/2 cars and kids). Corporations pushed the advertising, credit institutions and politicians to keep going as if nothing was wrong- but this, my friends, is where the well ran dry! There simply are too few decent paying jobs left here to continue fueling pickup and SUV sales (especially with no new homes being built).
With less than 9% of US jobs now in the manufacuring sector and 70+% in the service industries (restaurants, convenience stores, etc... which equals the working poor) the US consumers (also becoming increasingly aware of the environment) simply won't continue buying gas guzzlers in large numbers-period. These are the same type of entry level/economy minded buyers that are emerging in China.
These "working poor" US consumers are now actively seeking "Green" alternatives, specifically well-designed electric cars! Face it, Honda, Toyota, VW and even GM already make high quality small gas cars. So why would China want to follow the "Big 3" into oblivion when they could be producing hydro, solar and electric cars than no one else is mass producing? Not only this but, for no other reason than the Chinese people themselves need these cars to solve their own nationl issues of a growingly mobil economic worker base to fuel the manufacturing boom (not more gas vehicles polluting and compounding the expansion problem).
Lastly, let's not forget that the American people and the US Govt./Corporations are not the same thing! People here are really pissed off about loosing their homes and jobs right now and they are demanding a government change (finally). What, if anything, to do with corporate greed/lobbyists will change? I don't know. However, I do know that record numbers of young (under 40), "Green minded" voters are coming out in support of Obama; this is the portal to future US sales (economic revitalization).
Personally, I am using this forum to also promote my anti-American corporation views, but I am doing it in hopes of getting Chinese Automakers interested in actually producing "Green" cars which would eventually be sold to my fellow working class Americans (decent people). I do this because I KNOW American automakers are refusing to build these cars that the American people want and need!
I am PRO Chinese manufacturing to benefit American, Chinese and other people around the world. The question is, will China learn from the "Big 3s" mistakes?
