Big Three Try Harder Than Ever To Make Customers Happy

Never before have consumers been so courted by Detroit's automakers.

Now more than ever, the companies that once ruled the American car market almost by default have to fight to win over shoppers being wooed by a fast-growing legion of foreign rivals.

That competition is grinding away at Detroit's Big Three, evidenced by the financial turmoil engulfing General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group.

But if there's a bright side to the troubles, it's that people in the market for a new car or truck will find themselves deluged with attractively priced options better tailored to meet their specific needs.

This consumer-minded strategy is on display this week at the Chicago Auto Show, where Detroit automakers have announced everything from the revival of a once-beloved brand name to the launch of a sales strategy that includes letting potential buyers test drive a vehicle from their home.



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