BMW boss exposes the major problem with the 'Big Three' automakers

Recent tough financial situations for U.S. top carmakers have resulted from their failures to focus on what consumers truly want, the head of German automaker BMW said Tuesday. Chairman Helmut Panke said that now is not the time when carmakers can survive only by concentrating on their products, without serving users' likes and interests.

"A consumer wants to be basically sure that he or she gets a right product," Panke said in a luncheon at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo. He also said some German and Japanese carmakers have successfully increased their shares in the U.S. market by bringing in difference, quality, reliability and lower prices than those set by the U.S. Big Three auto giants

Source: Japan Today

jasongoudie - 10/19/2005 9:21:25 AM

+1 Boost

I have read all the articles concerning the Big Three lately. I don't think anyone has pointed out that in the 80's and 90's the big three made real lemons. So you have all of these people buying cars from detroit that are in the shop every other week. These peoples kids grow up and they remember GM, Ford & Chrysler and all of the issues their parents had with those cars. Why would anyone buy one today nothing has changed. These cars are throw aways, have no residual for resale. Not to mention the look, fit and finish is apauling to any foreign car. So the big three can do all they want in designing new cars, trying to step up the quality. My feeling is they are going to have to wait a long time before their sales start to go back up. Like another generation!!!