Let's get somethings straight here. Sales are down ACROSS the BOARDS, even Toyota is down. in 2008, there will be 12.5 million cars sold versus 17 million last year. Cars are still selling, just not as many. There isn't a problem with "one" maufacturer, they are all affected. Supply vs Demand...and we are in a recession.
Originally Posted by
fastforward
I think the big 3 deserve the help, sure they could have done some things better, but w/out GM alone, 3 million people are out of a job. If anyone of the big 3 goes down, all the companies that support them (parts suppliers, etc) will fail too. If they fail then even the Japanses makes won't have suppliers, and that can cause the Japanese car makers to go under as well.
Its a big drain....and we need to plug it now.
I love these numbers...nobody ever knows who comes up with them, and can not usually validate them.
FACTS:GM only employs 266,000 employees.
Yes, alot of other companies are related and such, but let's see some real numbers. Whose to say some of these employees won't go work for Honda, who just opened a new plant with 1000 new employees?
GM has sold 806,000 vehicles in Q1; 799,000 in Q2; and 828,000 in Q3 of 2008. They are in line to sell 3.2 MILLION cars this year. If GM goes belly up...where do you think those 3.2 Million buyers are going to end up? Ford, Chrysler, Toyota? Don't you think that these manufacturers might have to increase production to meet new demands? I mean 20% market share files bancruptcy, and somebody else will pick it up.
Let's not forget, GM is going under due to a recession. They're supply already exceeds demands, and the suppliers are ALREADY adjusting.
I say file bancruptcy and screw the unions.