Behind The Wheel
- Toyota Makes Recall Fix And So Long Saab
- The L.A. Extravaganza: A Test for Auto Shows
- Volt Drive: Great Ride, Interesting Interior and a Friendly Chirp
- Volvo Talks Show New Day Dawning for China
- Starting Car2Go - Smart Move for Daimler
- GM Cuts Losses—Plans Early Loan Repayment
- Ghosn's Bet: 10% of World Will Drive EV's in 10 Years
- Ford, Hyundai, Audi Gaining Interest
- Cadillac Converj Smart Extension of Volt
- Chrysler Makes Smart Call Staying Unplugged—For Now
MOST SHARED
- The Executive Job Search
- Chinese Overcapacity is Worsening, EU Chamber Warns
- US Mint to Suspend American Eagle Gold 1-Ounce Coins
- Salvation Army's Kettles Now Credit Card-Ready
- Topless Business Is Taking Off
- Dubai Debt Delay Rattles Stock, Bond Markets
- Fannie Mae to Tighten Lending Standards: Report
- Oil Friday
- The 'Real' Jobless Rate: 17.5% Of Workers Are Unemployed
- 4 Thanksgiving Week Buys For Your Portfolio: Market Pros
- There's a 'Great Chance' For a Double-Dip Recession: Strategist
- Revenge of the Gangsta Nerds
- Will TCU See The "Flutie Effect?"
- Retail Earnings and Sales to Improve in Q4: Analyst
- Consumers Catching the Holiday Spirit
- It's Beginning To Look A Lot More Riskless
- Crescenzi: Claims Level Suggests End to Job Losses
- Hedge Funds Take Early Lead in Warren Buffett's 'Big Bet'
- Share Trading on London Stock Exchange Frozen
- Fannie Mae to Tighten Lending Standards: Report
- China Overcapacity Worsening, EU Chamber Warns
- Investing in Good Karma – and Making a Profit
- Black Friday to Avoid Red Ink; Greenback Gets the Blues
- Wal-Mart Price Pressure Hurts China Workers: Report
- Bankruptcies Jump, Hitting Highest Level in Four Years
- Steepest Black Friday Discounts, Revealed
- Where Do Pardoned Turkeys Go?
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While most of us have been focused on the turmoil churning up GM and Chrysler the last 9 months, there's been far less attention given to the fact almost every other auto maker is struggling right now.
From Toyota losing $7.7 Billion to BMW recently reporting a 14th consecutive month of declining sales in Europe, there is plenty of pain to go around. Today shares of Porsche are under pressure as its slumping sales have investors questioning the future of the luxury auto maker. The on-going battle over what happens at Porsche has been one of intrigue in Europe. Here in the U.S., it's received only minor attention.
It highlight an auto industry that is at a crossroads. The old guard are paying the price for decades of building more plants, and continually expanding around the world. The niche players are being squeezed by the global recession. And the upstarts are snatching up assets and talent.
Look at GAZ out of Russia. Soon, Bo Anderson will become its Chairman. Anderson spent years rising through the ranks at GM, ultimately being the head of purchasing. Yes, one of the guys behind the "American Revolution" at Chevy, is now leading a Russian auto revolution. I would bet anything Anderson never dreamed of driving the future of the Russian auto industry when he was growing.
But in this day and age, the chairs on the deck are being re-arranged. Frankly, this is a good thing for both the industry and ultimately for you the car buyer. Every company is re-thinking how it designs and builds car trucks. Every company is looking for the "breakthrough" that will propel them to the forefront. That race of innovation and design will surely give us more than a few forgettable models, but also a few that will become benchmarks for the future of the auto industry.
I can't wait to see how it shakes out.
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