New poll shows Michigan public down on domestics
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Even as the domestic manufacturers lose the East and West coast, they can always count on Michiganders to buy something from the Big 3, right? A new poll by the Detroit News and WXYZ-TV7 shows that a rather surprising 51 percent think that Detroit is doing a "poor" or "only fair", and that 60 percent are "somewhat" or "very" concerned about the future prospects of the US auto industry.
Industry insiders, however, say that things may not be as bad as they look right now. David Cole from the Center for Automotive Research claims that people don't know what's going on at the Big Three and are "just reacting to the press". While that may be true, the public may also be reacting to their paychecks - or rather the lack thereof. Auto-related employment in the state is down nearly 30 percent in the last six years, and statewide unemployment is among the worst in the nation.
[Source: Detroit News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ryan 10:39AM (6/29/2006)
If you build cars that people want, everyone would be getting a paycheck, since you would need more rip off UAW workers to build your cars :)
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DJA 10:58AM (6/29/2006)
I don't know how accurate or significant these reports are, but it's getting old. Will there ever be good news related to the US auto industry again?
Gloom / Doom / Death / Bankruptcy /
Geeeez!
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Jeremy Goeske 10:59AM (6/29/2006)
"David Cole from the Center for Automotive Research claims that people don't know what's going on at the Big Three and are "just reacting to the press". "
My thoughts exactly. The vast majority of people know absolutely nothing about automobiles, just what they are told by their friends and the appliance/import biased media, which is usually "buy a Camry". Media and consumers will continue to look away from the dropping quality of Toyota, as well as the constant improvements going on at Ford and GM.
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JRoane 11:01AM (6/29/2006)
Unfortunately, Detroit is on the wrong end of the snowball turning into an avalache. People assume alot about cars. Most of the folks that say bad things about domestic vehicles without firsthand knowledge. Unfortunately, perception is reality and changing perception is a long term process. My fault with the domestic auto makers is that with such relentless pressure from imports, you need a consistent long term strategy that is based on the core components of the business. The domestic strategies have been all over the map, usually chasing what is hot at the moment (SUVs, for example) instead of what are core products (entry level and family sized sedans).
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Steve 11:03AM (6/29/2006)
"While that may be true, the public may also be reacting to their paychecks - or rather the lack thereof. Auto-related employment in the state is down nearly 30 percent in the last six years, and statewide unemployment is among the worst in the nation."
This is too true. We've watch suppliers die off from the "big 3" putting them under. Watched many companies down-size in the name of being "cost efficent" for what? More profits for share holders and higher priced cars for the public. Gas prices don't help, but who's kidding who... big 3 goes hand in hand with big oil.
As much as I love cars and watching the "man" plate cars run around here... I'm considering leaving the area because of the auto industry. Find a nice safe medical job somewhere... because everyone is going to be sick sooner or later.
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UH2L 11:16AM (6/29/2006)
As it stands today, we can't export services like we can export manufactured goods. But pretty soon, our standard of living will be low enough (no high-paying jobs), that we'll be able to manufacture cheaply here again and export to other countries since our dollar will continue to tank due to deficit spending. (I'm half joking).
But it's true, the automotive press is riding the U.S. industry so hard and so unfairly that they're starting to put our industry in a death spin. Where's the patriotism in pursuits besides war.
I always thought it would be funny to retaliate against California who seems to hardly buy anything domestic by only watching foreign movies. Then they'll know how we feel. :-)
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Paul 11:18AM (6/29/2006)
I find it really funny that the people who depend most on jobs from the big 3 wont buy their own products.
It only makes sense to buy cars from companies whose workers actually care about the product, and that would be from any of the Asian car makers.
Americans love to buy products that are made elsewhere and they now import workers by the millions to do work that they are too lazy to do. America is looking more like ancient Rome all the time.
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The other Bob 11:35AM (6/29/2006)
"I find it really funny that the people who depend most on jobs from the big 3 wont buy their own products."
Paul, learn to read. That's not what the poll said. It did not speak about what they would buy, it told about the attitude Michiganders had toward the prospects of the auto industry, which IS pretty scary right now.
I am guessing that the big three have an 80% market share in Michigan.
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steve 11:57AM (6/29/2006)
even midwesterners are realizing what utter scumbags the American bussiness and government elite are. While people in the past may have bought into the buy American campaigns that sentiment is now blowing in the wind.
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Gardiner Westbound 12:16PM (6/29/2006)
People are reacting to their experiences.
My brother currently owns three GM products. One, a 2002 Buick, is a lemon. GM has not been responsive to his requests for consideration. It shit on him from great heights.
He is wowed by the Hyundai line, particularly the Azera and Santa Fe. I wouldn't be surprised if he buys one of each.
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SKluck 2:43PM (6/29/2006)
When 3 companies singlehandedly send an entire state into a recession and layoffs tens of thousands of employees, people are going to be pissed.
Couple that with the fact that no one seems to be doing anything about it and there isn't a lot for us michigan residents to be happy about.
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Duke 2:49PM (6/29/2006)
"Americans love to buy products that are made elsewhere and they now import workers by the millions to do work that they are too lazy to do. America is looking more like ancient Rome all the time."
I cant agree more. This statement says it all.
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Patsy 4:38PM (6/29/2006)
Facts
76% of Southeast Michigan’s economy is ultra dependent on the work of GM, Ford, and DCX…plus all their suppliers
82% of the world’s automotive research, testing, engineering, and design is done in Michigan.
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