BY MARK PHELAN • FREE PRESS COLUMNIST • November 17, 2008
The debate over aid to the Detroit-based automakers is awash with half-truths and misrepresentations that are endlessly repeated by everyone from members of Congress to journalists.
Here are six myths about the companies and their vehicles, and the reality in each case.
Myth No. 1
Nobody buys their vehicles.
Reality
General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC sold 8.5 million vehicles in the United States last year and millions more around the world. GM outsold Toyota by about 1.2 million vehicles in the United States last year and holds a U.S. lead over Toyota of about 560,000 so far this year. Globally, GM in 2007 remained the world's largest automaker, selling 9,369,524 vehicles worldwide -- about 3,000 more than Toyota.
Ford outsold Honda by about 850,000 and Nissan by more than 1.3 million vehicles in the United States last year.
Chrysler sold more vehicles here than Nissan and Hyundai combined in 2007 and so far this year.
Myth No. 2
They build unreliable junk.
Reality
The creaky, leaky vehicles of the 1980s and '90s are long gone. Consumer Reports recently found that "Ford's reliability is now on par with good Japanese automakers." The independent J.D. Power Initial Quality Study scored Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, Mercury, Pontiac and Lincoln brands' overall quality as high or higher than that of Acura, Audi, BMW, Honda, Nissan, Scion, Volkswagen and Volvo.
Power rated the Chevrolet Malibu the highest-quality midsize sedan. Both the Malibu and Ford Fusion scored better than the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.
Myth No. 3
They build gas-guzzlers.
Reality
All of the Detroit Three build midsize sedans the Environmental Protection Agency rates at 29-33 miles per gallon on the highway. The most fuel-efficient Chevrolet Malibu gets 33 m.p.g. on the highway, 2 m.p.g. better than the best Honda Accord. The most fuel-efficient Ford Focus has the same highway fuel economy ratings as the most efficient Toyota Corolla. The most fuel-efficient Chevrolet Cobalt has the same city fuel economy and better highway fuel economy than the most efficient non-hybrid Honda Civic.
A recent study by Edmunds.com found that the Chevrolet Aveo subcompact is the least expensive car to buy and operate.
Myth No. 4
They already got a $25-billion bailout.
Reality
None of that money has been lent out and may not be for more than a year. In addition, it can, by law, be used only to invest in future vehicles and technology, so it has no effect on the shortage of operating cash the companies face because of the economic slowdown that's killing them now.
Myth No. 5
GM, Ford and Chrysler are idiots for investing in pickups and SUVs.
Reality
The domestic companies' lineup has been truck-heavy, but Toyota, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz and BMW have all spent billions of dollars on pickups and SUVs because trucks are a large and historically profitable part of the auto industry. The most fuel-efficient full-size pickups from GM, Ford and Chrysler all have higher EPA fuel economy ratings than Toyota and Nissan's full-size pickups.
Myth No. 6
They don't build hybrids.
Reality
The Detroit Three got into the hybrid business late, but Ford and GM each now offers more hybrid models than Honda or Nissan, with several more due to hit the road in early 2009.
Myth #2
ReplyDeleteUnreliable junk? I think not. The 2006 Chevy Cobalt saved my life in an accident where I could have died. Flipped 4 times and I am still alive and well...so yeah. Although I am not happy the 3 executives flew to Washington on private jets...lame! We cannot allow them to fail. In this economy right now we really can't give up over a million jobs. Consider the Great Depression times 100 if that happens. Just my 2 cents.
www.politicalrev.viviti.com
GM can outsell worldwide but under how many brands 8 come to my mind when Toyota has 3. Compare marketing.... Same thing when u count hybrids. More isn't always better.
ReplyDeleteI would also hope people would buy made in USA so if your facts are correct Y aren't they???
>>so if your facts are correct Y aren't they???
ReplyDeleteHabit and brand loyalty.
My own brother-in-law bought a Toyota over 30 years while he was in college. It gave him good service so he's continued to buy them.
His son purchased a Jeep from a scum bag and paid double what the market price should have been.
Instead of realizing he didn't know how to select or buy a used car, he assumed Jeeps stink.
He now drives a Toyota truck he bought new.
We have a whole generation of people who will need a reason to switch; just to give Detroit a shot.
They may be idiots and scalawags, but they are OUR idiots and scalawags.
ReplyDelete...and they are the ones whose productions and work will pull us out of this disaster.