Quote:
Originally Posted by qwikz28
bringing european models over doesn't guarantee sucess... see astra, aura, contour, etc... the idea is to not change them too much from their european counterparts, and keep the price down, and guarantee the company wont go out of business, and prove them to be up to par with their foreign counterparts. remember, perception lags reality so it will take a while for the big 3 to gain on the toyotas and hondas of the world
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Agreed to a point.
Astra was botched and to this day, is still being botched. In the days of 4 dollar gas there was a 300 day supply of them while Lordstown plant that made Cobalts added a 3rd shift.
Aura isnt european at all. It took Opel's design theme, thats it.
Up to this point, Ford nor GM can make the move without fumbling. But Mullaly seems to have a tight grasp on things.
Problem is...when that Euro Focus gets here, who the hell is gunna pay near 30k for a loaed Focus?
Ford already said that they are gunna cost more. People are gunna have to start adjusting thier idea of what is affordable.
GM will be building the world Cruze here, which so far looks amazing in and out. It will slowly replace Cobalt.
IMO, GM has the best plan out of the 3 of them. Its perception that Ford is doing better that the market will understand, thats all. Wall Street doesnt understand cars. They understand perception.