Pretty spot-on.

yep seems accurate

Speaking of train wrecks, the Chrysler Group has become the poster child for how not to do things in this business seemingly overnight. You remember the Chrysler Group, don’t you? The car company that has had more reinventions, reincarnations and comebacks than Madonna? There was the Lee Iacocca “buy a car, get a check!” government bailout era. There was the go-go minivan era, when Hal Sperlich’s vision for a modern people mover propelled the company to new heights – with Lido taking all the credit, per usual. Then, there was the End of the Iacocca era, when Lido’s time had surely passed, the business was headed for the tank (again), and it was all Chrysler could do to get him out and start yet another comeback – this one led by the formidable Tom Gale-led design mojo and Bob Lutz’s sheer force of will to do things right. Then, there was the “merger of equals” – the buyout of Chrysler by the German auto industry super power formerly known as Daimler-Benz, which almost took down the unified and renamed “DaimlerChrysler” and ultimately cost Chairman Juergen Shrempp his job when it became evident that they didn’t buy a happening car company at all – but a wheezing, sputtering, money hemorrhaging clunker that could barely get out of its own way.

And that led to one more reinvention as ace German car execs Dieter Zetsche and Wolfgang Bernhard played good cop/bad cop to get the Chrysler Group back on its feet one more time, “this time for good” as Zetsche pointed out to the assembled media every chance he got. With cars like the 300C, hot trucks like the Ram and the return of the Hemi (even though it technically isn’t), the good times were back, and the high-fiving and back-slapping were rampant out in Auburn Hills. Chrysler was back! Or it seemed like it anyway…

Well, as Ronnie Reagan used to say, “Here we go again.”

The new Chrysler Group seems remarkably like the old Chrysler. The management team left behind after Dieter ascended to the DCX throne in Germany has been sitting on an inventory problem – literally – since late last year, and every time they say “it’s fixed” it becomes apparent that it most assuredly isn’t. And then in a panic and right on cue, they ask their dealers to take more inventory with incentives baked in, so they don’t look quite as bad. But now, many Chrysler dealers out there are beginning to look at the whole process as being asked to swallow more inventory – at gunpoint – with not even a pinpoint of fiber-optic light at the end of the tunnel to indicate that this will ever end. The Chrysler Group has already telegraphed to the media and Wall Street that they are teetering on a $600 million loss for the third quarter, while bellowing the usual, hackneyed, two-pronged Detroit refrain of “It won’t be long now!” and “Our good stuff is coming right around the corner!”

Call me Mr. Skeptic. When a car company has the propensity to self-destruct as part of their fundamental raison d’etre as the Chrysler Group does – it’s headed for trouble. Yes, I know, Dieter Zetsche insists that sunny skies are indeed right around the corner, but I’m not buying it. Why? Two reasons – product and marketing. The Caliber is a hot seller, that’s true. But the Jeep Compass is a tepid answer to a question that no one’s asking. Not to mention the new Sebring sedan, which is bristling with every design cue that Chrysler could jam on it, hoping against hope that it would somehow equate to a design execution worthy of Chrysler’s now quickly-fading design heritage. Trust me, it doesn’t – instead it’s a mish-mash of themes and gimmicks that has “unmitigated disaster” written all over it. Add to this the fact that Chrysler is over-burdened with trucks and SUVs – and there aren’t enough days on the calendar to prevent Chrysler’s next self-inflicted turn in the barrel.

Add to this the fact that the Chrysler Group is burdened with the most incompetent marketers in the automotive world, and you end up with a giant bowl of not good. I’ve had plenty to say about the dismal “Dr. Z” corporate ad campaign in the last few weeks, and I haven’t changed my intensely negative appraisal of it one iota. It has turned the engaging and cerebral Dieter Zetsche into a cultural joke, and it pegs my “wince” meter every time I’m unfortunate enough to be subjected to it. You know something is wrong when the Chrysler Group marketing and PR minions go out of their way to defend the campaign, vehemently protesting the overwhelming opinion of a broad spectrum of professionals within the ad biz and the auto biz that considers it to be nothing short of a relentless embarrassment.

Methinks the gang out in Auburn Hills doth protest too much.

To be blunt, the campaign is a flat-out failure – a dismally painful concoction masquerading as advertising promoting an idea that means exactly nothing to the consumer, while doing nothing to mask the fact that the Chrysler Group is headed to the abyss yet again – with its executives playing the blame game, making excuses and backing them up with empty promises every step of the way.

GM is gonna wipe the others off the map. It is inevitable Mr. Delorenzo and I think you know that. Gotta love GM!

bmw is a good brand no one can deny that

Gee ….. He said BMW is “simply the best”. Very true. All the haters line up.

The company gets it. Now can we please have the 1-Series.

I will take a 135i , thank you. I just read they are going to build this little 300hp twin turbo beast.

I don’t disagree about anything in particular. It just seems that he’s a little biased in favor of european companies. I wonder what kind of car he drives?

I’m with Renton. theres a black 135i with my name on it. Where’d you read about a 300hp twin turbo 1 series? Seems like that’d interfere with BMW’s marketing scheme. Nobody wants to be beat in their new 335i coupe by their son in a 135i.

Yawn yawn, doesn’t say what I want to hear, yawn yawn bias yawn yawn

No Renton, he did not say BMW is “simply the best”. He actually wrote “Of the German luxury automakers, BMW is simply the best.” That’s the kind of crappy out of context quote I’d expect on a flim ad.

Wait, DeLorenzo wrote something? And it’s a Wednesday? Holy ****! That’s amazing!! Wow. Now only if he were relevant or intelligent. Oh wait, and not in the pocket of certain automakers at any given moment.

Haha… he says Bill Ford and Marks Field gets it… well I don’t think so. Currently Ford is in the worst shape of the Big Three, with GM sandwiched in the middle and Chrysler slightly ahead of the game. But then again, that’s only in the American market, I have no idea about the European-Asian market. I believe GM isn’t doing good over there, but Ford is doing better than they are over here.
Yes, BMW is a good brand. They make fun, very good enduring cars. They may be the best in their market right now.
I don’t see Toyota doing anything that makes Delorenzos statement true. They are Japanese right? But that doesn’t make the latter true either, that they are totally American.
Not that Toyota is bad or anything. Toyota makes fair cars, they have their problems and they recall and fix them properly.
I don’t have much to say for Nissan though. I didn’t know they were doing bad right now, I thought they were doing ok (not great but ok) .
Of course people are always crushing the American auto manufacturers for making non fuel efficient vehicles, but Toyota has it’s gas guzzlers too. And so does Nissan, but they are still OK brands, not great but OK.

General Motors does have a VERY long way to go before they are back in good shape, and they had better keep on their feet even after rebuilding. But currently they are doing pretty good as far as coming out with better cars is concerned. But the big three still have a VERY LONG ways to go, most notably Ford in the American market.

i agree with jay, fords doing the worst of the big 3 with gm not far behind. i dont get it though, i thought DC was doing pretty good lately, maybe not the chrysler group, but DC as a whole.

With this sentence:

“They have demonstrated time and time again that they will stop at absolutely nothing to convince people that they’re not a Japanese company that ultimately sends profits back to Japan”

The writer shows that he knows nothing about global markets or publicly-owned companies which are listed on stock exchanges. Toyota can be owned by anyone who purchases stock, thus Toyota is owned by Americans, Europeans, Asians and Africans. Anyone who owns stock in Toyota owns Toyota; what’s so difficult to understand about that?

Jon.

And where does he come up with this ****?

“As for the German automakers, it’s a mixed bag of good and bad. Audi has started to gain serious momentum in this market, but they’re still plagued by less-than-stellar quality reports. Audi has been hovering around the periphery of the top European luxury class in America for so long that it’s easy to take them for granted as being a perennial second-tier player, not quite ready for prime time as defined by BMW and Mercedes. But that would be a mistake. Audi has the will, the technical know-how and the desire to fight for their place in the serious luxury spectrum – and I believe they will emerge as a top-tier player in the next 24 months.”

First off all, Audi has a higher J.D. Power rating BMW and Mercedes for 2006:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2006-06-07-iqs_x.htm

Audi: 130
Mercedes: 139
BMW: 142

And while you may not too much stock into J.D. Power’s surveys, they are at least an indicator based on facts, compared to the fact-less Personal Opinion of the author. As well, the author apparently doesn’t travel to Europe much where Audi is seen as a player against BMW and Mercedes AND in it’s native Germany is seen as a better car to own. Perception in America is only that: perception.

Jon.

I do not think you will see a 1 series in the US unless BMW decides to compete with the Audi A3.

Its a tough decision to sell that kind of small car at such a high price. BMW does not want to be in the business of selling low priced cars, it just isn’t their market.

And Honda: Words cannot describe how good they are!

Zan,

You mean it’s not their market in the US, right? Because in Europe they have cars like the 1-Seires and 3-series compact which are definitely lower markets.

Jon.

Random Jerk — “No Renton, he did not say BMW is “simply the best”. He actually wrote Of the German luxury automakers, BMW is simply the best.” That’s the kind of crappy out of context quote I’d expect on a flim ad.”

German cars are the best. BMW is the best German car company. Therefore……(remember the SATs)

He actually did say it later on in that paragraph.

“As long as BMW can keep from aspiring to have one of their products in each and every garage in the U.S., IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE MOST FORMIDABLE CAR COMPANY IN THE WORLD.”

I think your hate is clouding your reading comprehension. I did not take anything out of context.

There is nothing wrong with agreeing that BMW is the best car company. They have been hitting the ball out of the park for the last 10 years. They are giving the customers what they want and are standing by their products . They are marketing and engineering geniuses and making the other companies jealous. They are sticking to their vision.

Get with the program and come on in for the big win, Random Jerkoff.

It’s pretty accurate, IMHO. Anyone who’s driven a BMW can agree that they’ve definitely put a lot of thought into making the car.

3 series compact don’t exist no more. If BMW could make a profit on the 1 series and they felt it wouldn’t destroy their image the 1 series would come to the USA. It is available in mexixo so just bring one over the border. Or is that against the law?

http://www.bmw.com.mx

Toyota is publicly traded so while the profits go back to Japan they are dispersed, less retained earnings, to share holders. You don’t have to be Japanese to buy stock and the retained earnings are used to build plants, some in America, to give American’s jobs.

He really didn’t say anything that I disagree with or haven’t been saying for the longest. I haven’t been paying attention to the Koreans to much, so I cant comment on them, but everyone else is pretty spot on. He was a little harsh on Porsche, but not without justifiication… and I’d actually say that he was a little too easy on Ford. I think they’re (Ford) is in worse trouble than they let on. He hit the nail on the head with DCX, mediocre products that come up huge, then dwindle into nothingness sorrounded by ****ty products. For once I applaud him for calling it like it is.

A big angry defense becuase you got called on your out of context quote. I don’t call you out for your OPINION, I call you out for quoting out of context. Who knows, maybe I agree that BMW is “simply the best”, but I wouldn’t make a bull**** out of context quote to support my opinion.

“I think your hate is clouding your reading comprehension.” What hate would that be? Hate for crappy out of context quoting?

I think BMW fan-boyism has clouded your ability to write critically.

Either lead, follow or have the government bail your dumb ass out every single time you mis-manage a company!

Renton,

I think mechanically BMW is for the lack of a better word: Perfect. However, I don’t think that they are truly giving their customers what they want. I just don’t see customers asking for the over-complicated iDrive or for adjustable-adaptive suspension that is useless, or ultra-complex gearboxes like the SMG which are more of a headache than they are a joy (I know a few M5 owners who would kill for a good, old 6-speed manual transmission). I don’t see customers asking for turning stalks that can’t be turned off.

As well, BMW sales are up because of Bangles Polarizing designs, but that was mostly due to new customers. A lot of old BMW customers (that I have spoken to) are less than happy regarding all the new-fangled gadgets and the FUGLY designs. You can see BMW reeling on this when they toned-down the 750i from its original, full-on flame-surfacing protégé Bangle designed 745i.

Jon.

Nissan got what it deserves!

I wonder how much of those sales numbers for BMW are based on leases? I know tons of people that aspire to own (or lease) a BMW simply because they always wanted a Bimmer. They, naturally, pick a standard dealer 325i (leather, auto transmission, optional stereo) and will never even come close to driving it in a way that would showcase the BMW’s chassis dynamics. On the other hand, a lot of the true BMW afficionados I know would prefer to buy used and choose something like M3s, M5s, 540i Sports (6 speed naturally) and are mostly turned off by the over-complication of things like Jon mentioned. I’m definitely part of the latter, preferring to spend my money on a used, attractive BMW instead of the ugly (read Bangled) newer, more complicated models.

So far, I score it like this, Random Jerk 2, Renton 0 !

No, it’s the other way around: Renton 2, Random Jerk 0.

It’s funny how any journalists who has anything positive to say about GM and doesnt praise Toyota is crazy and subject to name calling. I think everything he said was on point 100%.

I have read the AUTOEXTREMIST every wednesday morning,for the past five years and NOBODY is more accurate than Mr.DeLorenzo,when it comes to the auto business in the U.S.

I smell not one but two Audi lovers.
And wherever there is a Audi lover there is a BMW haterrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Random Jerk — “I don’t call you out for your OPINION, I call you out for quoting out of context. Who knows, maybe I agree that BMW is “simply the best”, but I wouldn’t make a bull**** out of context quote to support my opinion.”

Dude…. did you read my post? I answered your “call out” with the rest of the paragraph. Go back and re-read it. Mr. DeLorenzo clearly states that BMW is the best car company in the world.

You ran with a half sentence blurb and tried to make huge “context” argument out of it.

Nothing was out of context.

Jon — I agree. they are far from perfect. I-Drive is their answer to the “too much **** on the dashboard” question. My answer would be , “just stop putting so much **** on the dashboard.” They just happen to still be better at making driver’s cars than the competition. The other companies just really don’t get it. BMW could be even better.

We do not need “dual zone climate control” or a gazillion electronic aids for everything.

Banglism does not work all the time. Z4-yes. 5&7 series – not so much

Jimbo – G Mill$ – I saw the 135i in a Euro mag in Bryn Mawr the other day. I don’t think we will ever see this car her in the US.

Bummer

I think RENTON makes the most sense out of everybody. Dont u have a S2000 Renton?

If all the pro-domestic fans are so determined to get the foreign carmakers out of this country, maybe we should make the first move and get our crap out of the foriegn countries first? If it ain’t GM, Ford or Chrysler, it has no right being sold in anything but America.

How’s that for a solution.

SJ – 1, Everybody Else – 0 !!!!!

it seams that everybody from america hates american cars, why is that?

I’m tired of paying too much for stuff that breaks. Like 60 grand for a Lemon Cadillac SRX. Never been burned by a Ford or a Chrysler, but GM? Woah boy.

Don’t get suckered folks.

I could hope that the only thing Mark Fields gets is the front door of Ford closing behind him. For the last time.

Barry — “Dont u have a S2000 Renton?”

Yep. 2006. Great car.

It’s our job as Americans to stop Toyota dead in its tracks. It’s our job as Americans to support American owned comapanies. Global economy be damned.

It’s not even our jobs, it is our duty to buy GM. Don’t buy GM? Get the Fok outta my country.

No, it’s not our jobs as Americans to buy American products. I can go out and buy whatever damn product I want, I buy the best product for the best price. I try my best to support American business, but if they don’t make the better product then forget it. If Ford makes a better car for a better price, I’m gonna go with Ford. If Nissan makes a better product for a better price, I’m gonna buy a Nissan.
IT’S THEIR JOBS AS AMERICAN CAR COMPANIES TO BEAT THEIR COMPETITORS IN THEIR OWN TERRITORY! They should put their consumers first, which they haven’t done for the past 30 some years.

Well said Jay………..golf claps to you.

Jay is right, I hate to say it. But I also think GM gets it right now, and eventually Ford will too ! The product will lead the comeback. But seriously folks, you can count what, 19 manufacturers in the U.S. selling cars, trucks & SUV’s right now, when way back when GM & Ford ruled, there was only 5 ? (GM, Ford, Chrysler, AMC & VW). The market is splintered and competition is good for us all. LAst year GM actually sold as many cars in the North AMerican market as it did in 1960, when they dominated market share. 40 years later, we’re a +17 million a year market, with 19 or more manufacturers fighting for a piece of the pie. It’s a different world, the days of anybody controlling 60% of the market are gone. You can and will be able to watch more and more jobs go to Mexico, India, China and Thialand (sp?), and it will affect everybody, not just auto workers…….I buy only American auto’s, but everybody has the freedom of choice.

I need to learn to spell my own handle correctly…

And the continued job growth from the foriegn brands will replenish a good portion of those jobs that GM and Ford give to Mexico, China and India.

I think we’ll be alright.

First off, an American car is one made here. Regardless of the badge. Toyota and Honda have large factories in America, providing jobs and tax revenue.
Most “American” car companies outsource to other countries, Chrylser is German owned, etc.
Beyond that, I buy what I like and that means quality, resale, performance. Sorry big three, that leaves you out.
German cars just seem to compliment the drivers skill and involvement more than any other. “American” cars seem to insult their drivers, providing at best insulation from the world, and not even doing that well. Japanese, especially Toyota, do the insulation thing well, while retaining SOME involvement. Can’t argue with Toyota/Lexus resale either.
Bottom line is, buy what you like, buy what makes sense, it’s a huge commitment and you spend a large portion of your life in your car.

he seeming skipped right over honda for some reason

The traditional domestics (Ford, GM and the Chrysler Division of DCX) employ 8 out of every 10 autoworkers in this country, I don’t see “the continued job growth from the foreign brands” picking up the slack anytime soon…….hell, Ford alone employs more American autoworkers than all 17 of the foreign brands sold here do combined !!!! The auto industry supports 1 out of every 10 jobs in this country. These company’s matter to us all, anybody who doesn’t think so is really being shortsighted and foolish. Competition is good, I welcome the competition, but I don’t wish the demise of the traditional domestic automakers just because I’m free to buy a Toyota, that’s ridiculous.

Will $10 per hour and NO benefits really “replenish a good portion of those jobs that GM and Ford give to Mexico, China and India” ? I personally don’t believe so. I worked for a French automotive parts supplier once already, and while we turned a profit for them here in N.A. (right here in Hamilton, Ohio), they rewarded the home boy’s in France with bonuses and raises, and shipped more French Manager’s and Engineer’s over hear for a free tour in the US of A…..they got apartments, cars, food allowance, and oh yeh, a premium pay for being away from home ! NEVER AGAIN FOR ME, foreign company’s ain’t worth the trouble. !

While these poor folks in Detroit line up for $10 an hour jobs with no benefits, do you think they will spend their hard earned dollars at the Dry Cleaner, the Bakery, the Tax Accountants or the Doctors (or their freak twin, The Lawyer !) offices ?? HELL NO, and why ? Because 30% of their hourly wage will be lost to taxes, and another 30% of that hourly wage will buy you ONE GALLON of gas….now the poor guy or gal is at $4 bucks an hour !!! THat won’t even buy you a monthly payment on a Toyota, so who’s gonna buy cars, anybody’s car’s on $10 per hour. ‘Archie Bunker’s Junker’s’ will be selling 30 yr. old cars like crazy…..

We can never, ever “replenish” the losses of American jobs in ANY industry of this Country. You’d be a fool to believe otherwise.

Thousands line up at auto supplier’s job fair

Louis Aguilar / The Detroit News

STERLING HEIGHTS — A French auto supplier offering $10-an-hour assembly jobs with no benefits in Sterling Heights was expected to draw some 4,000 applicants to a two-day job fair by the time it ended at 6 p.m. today.

During the job fair at the Sterling Heights Parks and Recreation Center, 40620 Utica Road, a huge line formed early as job seekers waited to undergo a brief interview process by representatives from Faurecia Group. On Wednesday, so many people showed up to apply that the company ran out of applications half way through the job fair, said several applicants who had returned today.

With a 7 percent unemployment rate in Michigan and with the number of high-paying factory jobs dwindling by the month, many applicants said they wouldn’t have considered taking a $10-an-hour job just a few years ago.

“Five years ago, if you would offered me this job I would have laughed at you,” said Debbie Kowalke, a former administrative assistant who was downsized and now “just survives” on a waitressing job. She wants to work a night shift at Faurecia and still keep the restaurant job, she said.

“Now I really need this. And look, I’m not the only one,” she said, as she pointed to the long line of applicants that stretched outside the building and snaked around a city park

Of 17 job applicants queried at the fair, eight of them once had auto jobs that offered higher hourly wages and health benefits; 14 currently have jobs that pay less than $10 an hour; 11 have children; and only two of the 17 have health insurance.

Representatives from the Faurecia Group could not reached for comment. It was unclear how many people the auto supplier would ultimately hire.

You can reach Louis Aguilar at (313) 222-2760 or laguilar@detnews.com.

^^^ Nemo _ I do not wish to see the demise of major employers in the United States, I’m certainly not going to spend my hard earned money on a poorly built, unsatisfactory car, just to support them. the america auto companies dug their own grave with poor product and stupid deals the UAW.

No gravy train lasts forever, and the workers failure to forsee this buy not getting an education is not my problem to solve. They were overpaid for years.

Honda, BMW, Subaru, VAG is where my monies be going.

Why would you buy something if you knew it was not good?

VAG ??? hahaha ! Some of the worst reliability out there…..

Renton, it’s about more than just cars my friend. And I have to disagree with your opinion of domestic automobiles. It’s comical that you mention VAG and Subie as 2 of your choices, as neither rank very high in quality or reliability. But like I said, it’s about more than just cars, we could argue about that all day. You missed the point of the post. Put yourself in a $10 / hour economy for a moment, and think about the impact that has on everything around you. I’ll file your reply amongst the others in the “they just don’t get it” file. Thanks for your time.

I get it. For me its just about the cars. I have my own problems and family to worry about before I start to worry about the problems of somebody else. What am iIsupposed to do; buy a piece of crap that loses 50% of its worth the second I drive it off the lot, just so some guy can keep his $35.00/hr plus benefits for screwing a dashboard. I think it is you who might not get it.

You think it is comical to mention VAG and Subaru? They make some nice stuff, screw those “rankings” I have never, nor has anyone I have known had a major major problem with either brand. I have owned a lot of cars, and I think that I have had the most problems with BMWs and Hondas, and guess what? I still buy them and so does everybody else.

You can disagree with my opinion of domestic autos, but you are just sticking your head in the sand. Do you think it is just me? Many posters here in this forum think that American cars stink.

You should file my post in the “they just don’t give a ****” file. I don’t know why you think I don’t get it. I just don’t care.

volkswagens and audis are fairly unreliable due to their electronic suppliers and the way they choose to engineer their products in an idiotic manner. they only try to hide it in interior and exterior build quality.

alex– I am having trouble deciphering what you are trying to say. That VAG hides idiotic engineering with interior and exterior build quality?

So you are syaing that VW/Audi Group had a meeting and said ” We have idiotic engineering, we need to upgrade our build quality to hide it.” That revolutionary VR6 engine… retarded. The air suspension…..stupid. The W12…..moronic. The Le Mans winning turbo diesel…. what were we thinking? Quattro all wheel drive, how can get rid of this and hope that no one associates this engineering with us?

alex, what were you thinking with your post?

They make very nice cars and I have enjoyed owning several of their products. I will buy more in the future.

I HAVE TO agree with the second comment from the top:

“GM is gonna wipe the others off the map”. (end quote). This is partially because of an article I just read about the front wheels snapping off of the H2s- Pedestrians Beware!
http://usautonews.auto123.com/en/info/autonews/index,view.spy?artid=66227

Come on up north, where I work (In Canada) and take a look- Fords and Dodges; 1 in 50 is a GM because, well their trucks are cars with truck bodies on them. GM knows that most people pulling their vehicles into a gravel lane to park is, for them, “Off Roading” and build their trucks accordingly. GMs are junk.