STUDY: The way to profits in Detroit? Make fuel efficient cars

According to a new study by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, the Detroit three automakers need to make major changes in their current corporate cultures if they truly want to reverse their fortunes, and that will likely require new leadership. Says Walter McManus, director of the Transportation Research Institute's Automotive Analysis Division and co-author of the report:

Our findings support rapid, wide-reaching change in business models. The key to a long-term recovery is executing an excellent portfolio of products, and we find that increasing fuel economy standards will lead to a portfolio of products that is more likely to raise the profits of the Detroit 3 automakers than to lower them.

Perhaps it's not fair to lump all three major American automakers into the same category, but it's also true that Ford, General Motors and Chrysler have only recently shown any real efforts to drastically improve the fuel efficiency of their automotive fleet. Whether it's with the current leadership or not, hopefully that culture really is on the way out.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
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