Auto Show Is Like Pearl Harbor In Reverse

For the first time in decades, the Japanese automakers in Detroit to come on the defensive for their worst year since the first attack on American streets in 1960. Here's how this year's Detroit Auto Show, as Pearl Harbor in reverse.
We do not expect Detroit amateur literally knocking zeroes from the sky, and assuming that Toyota's grip on the problem of sudden acceleration of a fall in Cobo Hall comes from journalists being forced to work for 5 hours, but Japan is the air of invincibility - security, the quality, value and style your models are the best Detroit could speed in a given year - had disappeared in a cloud of beige.

Last year, Ford earned its place as the second largest automaker in the U.S. by Toyota, the first three fastest growing brands owned by General Motors, Chrysler and even - the company left for dead - has gained market share in the U.S. distance from the Honda, despite the lack of new models compared to its well-stocked with Japanese competitors. There are those among us who remember the Pontiac Aztec is detected, a never-built parade Lincoln concepts, overshadowing all Lincoln sold a cup of warm meals for Chrysler. Carpocalypse crops limped away from the Chevy Volt self-publish a super-sexy-for - Electric Electric Ford Focus revised Jeep Grand Cherokee, there are no easy targets left in Motown It would be easy to blame him for dropping points only Toyota, and each company has to expect some decline after the U.S. government paid $ 48800000 in order not to ignore safety and get your CEO to expose Americans to the Japanese term for "crying while masculinity." But it takes much more than Toyota and other Japanese companies also stumbled as a group, they fell by 1.7 percentage points in the U.S. market, a sharp reversal after more than a decade of steady growth.

Problems start at home. In Japan, the recession ended the car left begging for grants to a sale in progress, while the yen gained value against the dollar, shave hundreds of millions of dollars in profits, Toyota, Honda, Nissan and others used to return dragging home. Some warned that the production moved from Japan - such as Nissan Rouge will do - if the government does not provide extra help.

Toyota appeal and excite fans dream of being normally located just inside the Apple Store. It is used to excel in quality, and now Detroit and Korean manufacturers hole. Toyota has a hybrid garment, but behind General Motors, Ford, Hyundai, Nissan and others in battery technology, and began to develop. It even burned the political goodwill to close California operations personnel UAW workers building the Corolla just re-construction of the Mississippi, which will use non-union workers building Corolla.
The new MPV will be presented today show Toyota Prius problem. There is an unmet demand in America for hybrid-powered people mover that is not an SUV. Toyota should have built six or seven passengers Prius and got back a number of customers. Instead, the new model not add more seats or new features, but a bit stronger roofs of the old model, which deals at Costco for Jointritis.


Toyota not only lost the plot. Since the Insight hybrid was parked on the floor of the Detroit Auto Show two years ago, Honda had a direct hit. With Insight, Honda's hybrid sales actually declined this year. CR-Z have a look in the eye, but instead they said. Cross Tour showed styling boundaries were natural forms, such as goitre and humpback whales.

Detroit Auto Show is just like Pearl Harbor in reverse
New Ford Focus-style electric Power

Ford when he hit the Bull "Symphony oval in 1996. But Honda accounts for only a fraction of the recoil kneecapping Acura with" burnt interested edge design, but design is now ranked as the main reason people buy Acura. While European cars ahead of Cadillac and a powerful rear-drive luxury cars, Honda is the only option for the V10 supercar for a race, it promised to return, but time is not safe.

Only two Japanese automakers, Nissan and Subaru are able to increase their share in consumers in the U.S. in 2010. Mazda preserved, while Mitsubishi and Suzuki dealerships could do away with tricks such as inflatable gorilla on his roof and direct customers track circling buzzards.

Although the Japanese to come back - and they will return - will be much more difficult task to find. Europeans have their games on the luxury market, while Hyundai and Kia duo now look unbeatable value, so it's a car with driver avoids diamond quality Lexus LS460 Elle Diamond-in-the-rough Hyundai Equus.

And after two major bankruptcies, and worst of human error in connection with Boeing's corporate history, Detroit's defense with his GM, Ford and Chrysler, many new models and a few weaknesses. It was a long struggle, but Detroit Victory Garden finally paid off.