Mint.com flowcharts the state of the auto industry
We all know the state of the auto industry right now, especially with regard to the Detroit three. We'd say it's somewhere between normal and completely screwed. Sales volume has been mostly woeful, two of the Detroit automakers needed a taxpayer bailout to survive, and Chrysler has been passed around like a hot potato. Ford has more debt than Miami Beach has sand, yet the Blue Oval is considered the healthiest patient in the ICU. Beyond the cash infusion, the migration away from SUVs, and the desperate scramble for fuel efficiency, Detroit automakers have morphed, moved, cut and shrunk their way through the 21st century.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and we'd add that the above graph is tantamount to an engaging novella. It charts the massive brand exodus among the Detroit contingent, which looks like a quadruple reverse drawn up on the telestrator by John Madden. If that isn't sobering enough, the text below shows just how much Detroit automakers have shrunk since 2006. Overall, attrition at Ford, GM and Chrysler accounts for an astonishing 144,600 workers in only three years. No wonder Michigan has the highest unemployment rate in the nation.
The chart also gives a brief look at the up-and-coming members of the US auto industry, including Tesla, BYD, Tata and Smart, along with a quick blurb about the future of each of the automakers represented. Click on the graphic above to view the chart in full. Hat tip to M.Sharma.
[Source: Mint]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2004m3driver 4:47PM (9/05/2009)
great read! Looks like battery tech and new energy sources will shape much of the outcome for the future.
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click.kas 4:55AM (9/06/2009)
the nano is promising , since TATA has announced various altenative power sources for the nano like a turbo diesel variant with stop-start technology
read more here http://indianautotalk.com/?p=526
for a complete comprehensive review of the world's cheapest car - http://indianautotalk.com/?p=4
Randy 11:40PM (9/07/2009)
Great read yes but they forgot Mazda on Ford's sell list! Even though they sold it in small parts to avoid anyone taking any of it, it was still sold... Most of it anyway!
aabradley25 4:50PM (9/05/2009)
Ummm...No Mazda under Ford?
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Epsilon-Not 4:52PM (9/05/2009)
Mazda was never majority owned by Ford, I believe...
Solstice 5:50PM (9/05/2009)
Not majority owned, but Ford did have a controlling interest at a mere 34%. They sold 20% of that in 2008 though.
VictorRaikkonen 4:48PM (9/06/2009)
Ford never had a 51% stake in Ford, they only had controlling interest in Ford because an odd Japanese law that gave them controlling, which Ford had. But, Ford sold off some of that interest in Mazda to recoup some of the cash they lost turning the reigns back over to Mazda for the first time since 1993 or 96 I believe.
Jeff 12:53PM (9/06/2009)
Ford sold their majority ownership in Mazda earlier this year to a group of Japanese investors. I believe Ford still still owns around 15%, but no longer own controlling interest.
Jeff 12:55PM (9/06/2009)
If you own the controlling interest then you have majority ownership since you are the largest stakeholder... As I stated in my other post, Ford sold off a good chunk of their investment in Mazda and no longer have controlling interest.
Bloke 9:15AM (9/08/2009)
The chart shows core brands and wholly-owned subsidiaries. Mazda is, nor was, either to Ford.
Bloke 9:21AM (9/08/2009)
"If you own the controlling interest then you have majority ownership since you are the largest stakeholder... "
This isn't strictly correct ... a controlling interest is one whereby an entity owns the majority of the issued shares which have attached voting rights. This happens in the vast majority of cases where ordinary shares are issued.
Ken 4:54PM (9/05/2009)
Makes Ford look much more appealing than ever before.
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william tell 5:12PM (9/05/2009)
According the graph by the end of 09 Ford with have more than twice as many US workers as GM. And is also states Ford made 9.5billion profit last year. WTF Is this thing accurate?
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Yaroukh 7:03PM (9/05/2009)
i would assume the profit could be attributed to Ford Credit which is part f FoMoCo... somehow... i guess...
but still the numbers looks too big to me
jpm100 10:26PM (9/05/2009)
There's something wrong with those numbers.
Tony 5:43PM (9/05/2009)
GM looks like British Leyland did before it crashed and died when the government decided not to keep it propped up with more tax payers money. Good luck Ford but even it needs to work on customer relations at the dealer level.
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Jim 7:38PM (9/05/2009)
"GM looks like British Leyland did before it crashed and died when the government decided not to keep it propped up with more tax payers money"
The difference between British Leyland and GM is that BL never realized they had to stop making cars that were total crap.
Stephane Dumas 7:27PM (9/05/2009)
They jumped the gun a bit fast in the case of Opel, it isn't officially sold to Magna yet (RHJ and even Fiat are still interested). The folks of the French site LeBlogAuto compared the Opel case to the prime-time drama "Dallas" lol we might know soon the conclusion of that saga next week http://www.leblogauto.com/2009/09/feuilleton-gm-%e2%80%93-opel-conclusion-la-semaine-prochaine.html and there the possibility then Opel might stay within GM http://www.journalauto.com/infos/article.asp?idarticle=8395
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AC 11:12AM (9/06/2009)
Please make a graph of this showing Volkswagen! I can't for the life of me understand who owns what! And I work there!
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Dave 10:16PM (9/05/2009)
Also... I'm a bit curious as to how they lump smart and Saturn together. Incidentially, I own a VUE and a smart fortwo - and I am active on a lot of forums/events within the communities. Last thing anyone knew of on both sides - Penske is keeping Saturn and smart as completely seperate entities...
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