There have been plenty of editorials written
about the U.S. domestic automakers and their current dilemma. However, most cover the issue from either an American or
a Western perspective.
So it was interesting when the article, ‘EDITORIAL/U.S. automakers in
crisis’, popped up in our searches. It’s the translated version of a piece published in asahi, a Japanese news source.
The first half covers the
Ford and General Motors situation which, according to the article, is caused by the manufacturers’ lack of
fuel-efficient vehicles and the ‘legacy’ costs of their aging workforce. This is not unique news.
Things get more interesting in the second half when the article covers the following points:
[Continued
after the jump]
- The article agrees that the U.S. government should not assist the Big Two since such aid would be
“…undermining the long-term viability of GM and
Ford.”
- There has been no “anti-Japanese backlash” due to the Japanese
automakers establishing plants on U.S. soil and staffing them with U.S. employees. However, the article cautions there
is still risk due to American sentiment in favor of their domestic industries.
- Exchange of
technology between the automakers is a realistic alternative for reducing possible animosity (see above).
These views normally do not appear–especially the second one–in most Western-based editorial and
opinions. (Though this post
came close.)
What is your opinion on the points expressed by the article? I could not find the Japanese
version on the website (since I can’t read nihongo). If you read nihongo, could you please find the original
on the site and let us know what you think?