Jerry Flint: Do Ford and GM know how to build 'American' vehicles anymore?
In his latest rant, Forbes
columnist Jerry Flint questions the design strategies of Ford Motor Co. and General Motors. He thinks their
global-strategies for new models will fail, as much of it is based on slapping domestic badges on their European
models... not unlike what the companies did with the Contour/Mystique and Catera. This philosophy even extends to
trucks, usually considered the last bastion for the domestic automakers: GM developed the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC
Canyon from one of its trucks marketed in Thailand.
But Americans don’t want European cars from
American automakers, according to Flint... they want 'American' cars. And they're getting them from foreign automakers.
The blatantly big and bold Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum were developed by German-owned Chrysler. The Tacoma pickup had
been developed by Toyota for the American market from scratch and, Flint points out, currently outsells the above
trucks two to one.
With all the new vehicles rolling out of Detroit in the coming years, though, does
Flint's still have merit? Or is he right on target?
[Source: The Car Connection]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Bobkal 6:35PM (3/20/2006)
I think he's right on. There is not a single car that Gm makes besides the GTO and Vette that I would consider. The Solstice and the Sky are cool, but are unpractical as a daily driver. The only car that ford makes that I would consider is the Mustang.
Problem is that all of these cars are out of my price range. Right now I'm looking into a scion Tc.I wish that the domestics offered a nice, uniquely styled car for under 20k as I would prefer to buy American, but unfortunately they seem to have given up on us gen y'ers as the Cobalt and Focus both lack the stylistic pizazz to attract my attention.
That being said I am a huge fan of the Camaro concept and hope that GM can make it before I turn 100 and price it reasonably.
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s 6:36PM (3/20/2006)
he makes some good points but I think Fords would sell just as they did when the Taurus in the 90's if they took the Modeo from Europe which Flint disagrees. The Isois is even better in styling and it would sell here but Ford doesn't have any money in the US market because they wasted on the Ford GT. WHAT A F*CKING WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY AND ADVERTISING.
Bill Ford and others should be fired / impeached from the company.
GM....
GM decided to just sh*t on their selves and breath in the essences. Just kidding. GM was more focus on SUV's.
Both companies are screwed because hydrogen is the way to go and Toyota & Honda will leave them even more behind.
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s 6:36PM (3/20/2006)
he makes some good points but I think Fords would sell just as they did when the Taurus in the 90's if they took the Modeo from Europe which Flint disagrees. The Isois is even better in styling and it would sell here but Ford doesn't have any money in the US market because they wasted on the Ford GT. WHAT A F*CKING WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY AND ADVERTISING.
Bill Ford and others should be fired / impeached from the company.
GM....
GM decided to just sh*t on their selves and breath in the essences. Just kidding. GM was more focus on SUV's.
Both companies are screwed because hydrogen is the way to go and Toyota & Honda will leave them even more behind.
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Mal Fuller 6:37PM (3/20/2006)
As your Blog points out Mr. Arellano, Chrysler (DCX) has already proven the wisdom of Mr. Flint's words. Ford's successful new Mustang is further proof.
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Nat 6:41PM (3/20/2006)
If 'American' means big, dumb and ugly, then no. That isn't at all what I want.
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KT 6:48PM (3/20/2006)
Flint is a blathering fool. The 500/Montego which are based on a Volvo platform are selling well. The Focus is 6 years old and hasn't been drastically changed in that time. So of course it's starting to slump but it has nothing to do with it being based on a Euro platform.
He's a freakin idiot.
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Jay Tee 6:50PM (3/20/2006)
Flint got it wrong. "European designs" didn't work here because American car execs have to f**k with it before releasing it in the U.S.! The Focus flopping? It's a 7-year-old model and Ford refuse to bring over the new design that's been on sale in Europe for almost two years! The Contour bomb? It looked much less refined than the Mondale. The Saturn LS, does it actually look like the Opel, and did the Euro car have plastic panels? The Malibu, why would GM "restyle" it with a horrible look and nasty interior when they could carry over the more refined European designs, both exterior and interior, cleanly?
The problem with these euro designs is that American car companies just had to screw with them for the worse. Honda ported over the Eurpean Accord successfully as the TSX because they didn't change a thing except for the badges.
Every time I watch Top Gear or read Car I'm thinking how cool it would be if we could get the new Focus and some of the other european cars here.
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whofan 6:53PM (3/20/2006)
"If 'American' means big, dumb and ugly, then no. That isn't at all what I want."
Like the new Tundra?
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The Mechanic 6:59PM (3/20/2006)
They don't make strong simple cheap cars because of all the regulation much of which was instigated and encouraged by the corporations themselves to shut out competition. So now instead of a hundred independent all american manufacturers we have the nanny state making a perfect utopian safe and clean playground for the effete rich. The foundries, steel mills , stamping etcetera have gone overseas. Did any of us ever get asked do we want to trade off our livlihoods and economic independence for the smothering embrace of the nanny state?
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The Mechanic 7:01PM (3/20/2006)
They don't make strong simple cheap cars because of all the regulation much of which was instigated and encouraged by the corporations themselves to shut out competition. So now instead of a hundred independent all american manufacturers we have the nanny state making a perfect utopian safe and clean playground for the effete rich. The foundries, steel mills , stamping etcetera have gone overseas. Did any of us ever get asked do we want to trade off our livlihoods and economic independence for the smothering embrace of the nanny state?
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TJ 7:01PM (3/20/2006)
I think it's a good approach for Saturn to bring Opel vehicles to America. But that's always gonna be a small piece of the market and I think GM knows it.
Apart from that, I don't really see the point...well he's right about the boring design of the late Ford and GM models, but they ARE almost all American. They werde designed and built for the American market.
It's true, that the Toyotas that are sold in the States are quite different from the ones sold in Europe, but so are the Fords and the GM models. They are already trying to build different vehicles for different markets.
Ironically the only brand, that doesn't do it is DCX which he uses as positive example. Mercedes is selling its German cars in the States and Chrysler sells its American cars in Europe. They even start selling Dodge cars in Europe now (and market it as typically American, even though the Caliber was as much designed for European tastes as it was for American).
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Sid 7:29PM (3/20/2006)
He might have a point. And I say this as a GM fan. I usually drive my aunt's Mazda6 on weekends and it's awesome. Then my friend rented the G6 for a day and I drove that. While I'd pick it over the Accord and Camry, there is no way I'd take it over the Mazda. Why? Simply because the Mazda does a better job at being a Euro-JPN type sports car with skirts and a wing than the Pontiac.
However, everytime I see a Mustang or a Magnum, my mouth waters. I don't expect or even want my American cars to be great handlers or sleek and lithe. I EXPECT them to be brash and bold with low-end torque and a growl from the engine bay. If I want a handler with high-end torque, I'll buy the RX-8.
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mark 7:38PM (3/20/2006)
I don't want big, dumb and ugly. I want an American Audi A3 with Quattro and DSG. Maybe the European Focus?
I want the horsepower and styling of the Mustang combined with four-wheel drive, four-wheel independent suspension, the best interior this side of Audi, and the growl of an American V8 flowing out the dual exhaust.
In short, I want good American styling with European sophistication in the drivetrain and interior. Take the best of both domestic and European and build it. How hard can this really be?
Buy an Audi A3, a BMW 300 series sedan, reverse engineer the things, and then wrap some exciting American sheetmetal around the final product.
Presto, instant American success.
If you want an example of how not to do it, just compare the Ford Fusion and the Mazda 6. This is one instance where a simple rebadge would have sufficed.
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the chad 7:56PM (3/20/2006)
I think consumers got tired of the faux-'Euro' designs in the nineties with minimalist designs and no real eye-candy. They are ready to go back to anyhthing which is appealing to the eye and not JUST trendy. And yes, the 'American'-looking designs (i.e. 300C, Magnum, PT, HHR, Mustang) etc are grabbing so much attention because they are bold and noticeable and don't just blend in to the rest of the crowd (yet). What DCX did with the 300C was perfect-put an American looking body on a platform sharing much of the proven E-Class mechanicals. Americans would like something bold-that makes a statement-and are veering back towards more sculpted designs with creases and fender flares and whatnot and _tastefully done_ chrome. If the American companies would quit trying to follow everyone else and take risks and become a real styling leader, it would help them immensely. But the American companies just haven't quite gotten there yet: as always, a day late and dollar short.
to s:
GM is the foremost developer in ANY hydrogen designs. They have done some of the most extensive research in the area, and already have hydrogen cars that would be ready to release. Once it is clear that hydrogen is a viable alternative and ifrastructure begins to become available, they will enter the market heavily.
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WillDaThrill 8:02PM (3/20/2006)
Not like it matters anyway. They constantly play the rebadge game with themselves here in the states. Just look at the Fusion. They stopped making Taurus' and started making Fusions(Zephyr/Milian). Now why does anyone need three versions of the same car. That's like trying to chose between generic, Kellog's, or Post raisin bran. If you need a better example, look at the Nissan Quest and Mercury Villager (old rebadges though). How the hell did that happen?
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Chris 8:04PM (3/20/2006)
Whats wrong with the Fusion? It is a little bigger than the Mazda 6 giving it more interior room, especially in the backseat. That along with softer springs are why it is not as sharp driving as the 6. If its the styling that is at issue far more people like it than dislike it. Many dealers can't keep them on the lot, especially the higher end models like the SEL. This car will only get better when all-wheel drive is offered in the fall and eventually the new 3.5 V6 that will debut in the Edge and MKX.
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Michael C 8:26PM (3/20/2006)
I don't post here ever, so this may be nonsense, but I looked over at ford.co.uk, and I'd be really interested to know how the Ford Streetka/Ka would do over here. With the right price and directed marketing it seems to me like it'd be a hit with a certain demographic.
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speed42 9:37PM (3/20/2006)
Did it really take a financial columnist saying this to get attention? Hell, I've been saying it for years.
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whofan 9:41PM (3/20/2006)
I saw a Belair concept vehicle a couple years back. It was beautiful. These are posibilities GM can work on. Not necessarly retro but heritage. The new Buick Lucerne is a good example of a great car but why always a new name.
The American European cars brought here were rarely sucessful. We won`t pay big $ for small cars. We always want what we can`t have, then when we get it big deal.
Mercedes and BMW are great cars, but the average European car is more like Volkswagon. Nobody braggs much about that.
Mazda is the only Japanese brand that has style,
Mazda is under rated.
Chrysler is building the cars that demand attention. How long will RWD V8 last, on the dawn of a new fuel crises?
We went from RWD to FWD and going back to RWD. Whats cool or in is more fad than substance.
Some companys I think are stalled on were to lay down the money.
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s 9:49PM (3/20/2006)
To: Chad
Re: GM hydrogen
Extensive where... Produce an automobile that I can drive today. They can't! Your just as much full of it as GM. Stop defending b#@@%$^!.
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