Trend Setting Coastal States Still Remain An Import Car Stronghold

When the 2011 model year came to a close at the end of September, the Detroit Three had much to congratulate itself for.

Competing against their Japanese rivals (admittedly handicapped by an earthquake and tsunami), they made some nice gains. General Motors and Chrysler notched some improvements in market share, Chrysler climbed back into fourth place in U.S. sales ahead of Honda, and the in the hotly contested compact segment.

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vonbeeler - 10/6/2011 4:22:23 PM

+3 Boost

Economics 101.
Coasts cost more. More affluent.
1 million Coastal house generally equals $50-100k+ cars Lux Euro/Japanese.
200k inland house generally equals $20-40k cars GM/ford.
This a large generalization obviously but true.

TCLA - 10/6/2011 7:16:20 PM

+5 Boost

Costal? I see there's still no proofreader here.

1c3am5 - 10/7/2011 11:56:29 AM

+1 Boost

Problem with the coastal = big money argument. The growth in imports is coming from 2nd tier brands like Hyundai/Kia, not $100K luxury makes. So either the rich are living well below their means (doubtful) or the "marginal" coastal folk are seeing a decline in their standard of living.

2nd problem with the coastal = big money argument. Everyone likes to simplify the US down to east/west coast, with the balance being simpletons on farm land. That's what made manufacturing so great... It built all most of the areas on the interior of the U.S. (Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, Atlanta). All of these cities have wealthy and intelligent suburban areas, and universities just outside the suburbs.

When manufacturing and the required skills of robotics, chemistry, engineering, metalurgy, accounting, etc. are no longer required, then we truly are just a bunch of left-coast Hollyweird trash and east-coast paper-pushers/politicians.

vonbeeler - 10/7/2011 2:55:51 PM

0 Boost

The left coast Hollyweird trash contribute to make California the worlds 8th largest economy with GDP of 1.9 trillion. The cities and their states you mention total combined GDP don't add up to California GDP. Every major city in the US has a wealthy suburban area. But on pure scale there is no comparison to the amount of wealth that encompasses such a large geographical area as the West and East coasts. You can drive in an out of any central American cities wealthy suburban neighborhood within a few square miles.

DrtyEuro - 10/7/2011 9:04:02 PM

-1 Boost

there is no comparison between the wealth areas of "Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, Atlanta" and wealth California neighborhoods

have you ever seen traffic like this in any of those cities LOL

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/316345_10150317872770108_226003235107_8652749_1942099472_n.jpg

DrtyEuro - 10/7/2011 9:06:08 PM

0 Boost

wealthy*