I hate to do this, but... Well, in fact, I don’t ‘cause I’ve already done it. Roughly a year ago, I put together a Japanese manufacturer report card, and in it I essentially said that the game was over for a certain company.
I got flack for it; I was told that I was too harsh, even irrational. Shortly thereafter, I prepared a list of cars and trucks expected to pass in 2013, and in it I threw in the entire Suzuki brand. Once again, I got in trouble.
It’s not that I’m a bad guy; it’s just that I can read the writing on the wall. Reality is a tough thing to deal with and it’s understandable that no one wants bad things to happen. I get it. And for the record: I’m sorry I was right.
But here’s the kicker (and the reason why I’m gonna get into more hot doo-doo): Suzuki Canada will not survive. They say they’ve no current plans to discontinue new automobile sales in Canada. No current plans? Really? What does that mean? OK, I’m going to back off. I’ll let you, the reader, figure out what it all really means.
NOW! About Mitsubishi: My esteemed colleague, Mike, eloquently describes in his blog what the company needs to do in order to get back in the game. I would have been a little harsher and suggested that they can the i-MiEV altogether and divert all their efforts for this car into getting the Mirage here, right now.
Despite their best intentions, the strong Yen, the cutthroat nature of the business, shaky economy, consumer impressions, feelings, confidence, and everything that makes the car world so volatile can all easily make or break a company. Mitsubishi has done nothing but pull products off the shelf for the last few years. That does not bode well for a company that’s been struggling to keep its head above water for the last little while.
There are a few other brands at which I could point the finger and remind to keep an eye on the wall.
One such example is Chrysler: Although storied and proud, I wonder how a brand with essentially only two nameplates can survive. In fact, with the intended demise of the Town & Country in the U.S., where does Chrysler go from there? The current 200 is a fleet car; let’s not mince words. The 300 is a fantastic product, but it cannot carry Chrysler solely on its shoulders.
Should the 300 become the luxury Charger under the Dodge name? Will consumers wait for the next Town & Country CUV? The next 200 is expected to mimic an Audi A4; will potential customers buy into it? So many questions.
I see something on the wall, but can’t quite make it out. I hope it reads, “More Fiats.”
I guess it could be argued that Buick has done seemingly the impossible by rejuvenating a brand that was all but completely geriatric. I suspect that Chrysler will be able to do the same.
Times are still tough, and difficult decisions and situations need to be addressed. Dragging evils into the light is no pleasant matter, but is sometimes necessary.
I got flack for it; I was told that I was too harsh, even irrational. Shortly thereafter, I prepared a list of cars and trucks expected to pass in 2013, and in it I threw in the entire Suzuki brand. Once again, I got in trouble.
It’s not that I’m a bad guy; it’s just that I can read the writing on the wall. Reality is a tough thing to deal with and it’s understandable that no one wants bad things to happen. I get it. And for the record: I’m sorry I was right.
But here’s the kicker (and the reason why I’m gonna get into more hot doo-doo): Suzuki Canada will not survive. They say they’ve no current plans to discontinue new automobile sales in Canada. No current plans? Really? What does that mean? OK, I’m going to back off. I’ll let you, the reader, figure out what it all really means.
NOW! About Mitsubishi: My esteemed colleague, Mike, eloquently describes in his blog what the company needs to do in order to get back in the game. I would have been a little harsher and suggested that they can the i-MiEV altogether and divert all their efforts for this car into getting the Mirage here, right now.
Despite their best intentions, the strong Yen, the cutthroat nature of the business, shaky economy, consumer impressions, feelings, confidence, and everything that makes the car world so volatile can all easily make or break a company. Mitsubishi has done nothing but pull products off the shelf for the last few years. That does not bode well for a company that’s been struggling to keep its head above water for the last little while.
There are a few other brands at which I could point the finger and remind to keep an eye on the wall.
One such example is Chrysler: Although storied and proud, I wonder how a brand with essentially only two nameplates can survive. In fact, with the intended demise of the Town & Country in the U.S., where does Chrysler go from there? The current 200 is a fleet car; let’s not mince words. The 300 is a fantastic product, but it cannot carry Chrysler solely on its shoulders.
Should the 300 become the luxury Charger under the Dodge name? Will consumers wait for the next Town & Country CUV? The next 200 is expected to mimic an Audi A4; will potential customers buy into it? So many questions.
I see something on the wall, but can’t quite make it out. I hope it reads, “More Fiats.”
I guess it could be argued that Buick has done seemingly the impossible by rejuvenating a brand that was all but completely geriatric. I suspect that Chrysler will be able to do the same.
Times are still tough, and difficult decisions and situations need to be addressed. Dragging evils into the light is no pleasant matter, but is sometimes necessary.
 |