The New York Times provides a relatively superficial, but well-bulleted summary of US automakers' woes, focusing specifically on GM and Ford's lack of exciting products. The conclusion, hidden amid the Times's gingerly executed prose, is that GM and Ford cars are about as exciting as aunt Helen's pull-behind shopping trolly:
Auto companies can make up for a lot by making enticing automobiles, and right now analysts see something of a storm approaching that needs a survival plan.
Aside from carmakers' immediate fiduciary clusterfuck, past successes led by their trucks and SUVs have led them to concede the entire car market to their competitors. Yes, it's the cars, stupid. [Thanks to Tom for the tip.]
G.M. and Ford Stuck in Neutral as Buyers Look Beyond Detroit [The New York Times]
Related:
General Motors Death Watch: GM Pulls LA Times Ads After Critic Calls for CEO s Firing [internal]