Controversial columnist Peter M. DeLorenzo has written a lengthy piece on the state of the auto industry. Some highlights:
- Nissan: “Things are not only worse than you’re hearing about – the future is shaping up to be grim.” Morale is “in the toilet.”
- Chrysler Group: “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.”
- General Motors: GM’s product plan “indeed extremely impressive.” But still “plenty of work to do.”
- Ford: “I think Mark Fields gets it, and I think Bill Ford himself finally gets it.” But “it could get even uglier before they see a genuine up-tick.”
- Hyundai and Kia: “An aversion to the concept of listening.”
- Toyota: “They will stop at absolutely nothing to convince people that they’re not a Japanese company that ultimately sends profits back to Japan.”
- Audi: “I believe they will emerge as a top-tier player in the next 24 months.”
- Mercedes: “For every car they do right [...] they unleash a monument to tedium like the new GL-Class, or the overwrought and overpriced R-Class.”
- BMW: “Is simply the best.”
- Porsche: “The certifiable Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde of the auto business.”
