I shouldn't give tw such softballs

[elSicomoro]

From MSNBC/The New Yorker: In the current atmosphere of economic tumult, the announcement that Toyota sold 160,000 more cars than General Motors in the first three months of this year might seem like a minor news item. But it may very well signal the end of one of the most remarkable runs in business history.

For 77 years, in good times and bad, GM has sold more cars annually than any other company in the world. But Toyota has long been the auto industry’s most profitable and innovative firm. And this year it appears likely to become, finally, the industry’s sales leader, too.

GM makes great cars now...but their reputation precedes them. Toyota has had some quality issues lately...but their reputation precedes them.

Interesting article...we talked a lot about kaizen and Deming and TQM in my Masters classes.

[TheMercenary]

I must tell you that I was a full time "buy American" guy for quite a while, years.

Until last fall I owned 3 F-150's and loved them all. (3 at one time), plus 2 other cars, one a Toyota, one a Subaru.

I really really wanted to buy another NEW F-150, as my 04 was getting beat up and the milage was climbing, I could see a major repair bill was in it's future. So I go to the Ford dealer and guess what. Same fucking truck. I mean to the T. Nothing new. No inovation. So I check out the Toyota because we have had one for 3 years (now 4, Sequoia) and the thing is flawless. Runs like a tank.

Long story short, I bought the Tundra and love it.

That and the F-150 is made in Canada and Toyota's are made in the US.

Snooze ya loose.

[tw]

The only reason GM refuses to eliminate their only problem: every five years, GM puts out propaganda that says, "We were making bad cars. But now we have our act together." After seeing this maybe eight times, well, 'fool me seven times, shame on me'.

GM has suddenly improved their quality. Only some GM cars have engines that were industry standard 15 years ago. Some GM cars are now doing what foreign competition was doing 10 years ago. To those who love to be lied to, that means GM products are again competitive.

GM has great communication majors - also called propaganda. A chief engineer was a graduate of an industrial arts school - not a car guy - so that GM bodies would look prettier. It works. Many see the pretty body rather than the same old shit beneath. 35 years later and GM still does not have what is standard in all cars - the 70 Hp per liter engine? Until GM cleans house - has top management that drives cars (have driver's licenses), then innovation cannot happen. GM can only feature what was standard elsewhere 10 years ago. GM products will remain failed promises due to bean counter management as the chart demonstrates for the past 25 years.

GM has just averted bankruptcy by four hours in 1991. GM value increased after their lowest period? Of course not. GM kept making promises that too many believed and that were myths. Red is the Dow Jones Industrial. Green is the S&P500. Blue is GM: