American Automakers: What Consumers Want
With all the news recently about the bailout of the American automakers, a lot of consumers are worried that even should the bailout go through, the automakers will continue to produce undesirable cars. With the past few years as reference, such a worry is more than warranted. American automakers have been too focused on fancy gadgets like in-dash GPS units, rear cameras, sound systems, and DVD players, ignoring the fact that none of these items will sell a car alone. Americans want a car that is dependable, has excellent gasoline efficiency, low emissions, and with low environmental impact. Hulking gas guzzlers, hybrid trucks, SUVs, and vans are unappealing to most consumers.
In some respects a capitalist economy should be ’survival of the fittest’, and if American automakers have all failed, perhaps it’s time for them to pass on. But one has to wonder if they have the potential to pull their act together.