Trump Tells The Germans They Sell Too Many Cars In The US - Why Don't You Buy American?

For most of the last 20 years -American manufacturers have little to compete with the German Luxury and Near Luxury sedan onslaught. Today - only GM really has cars that can compete in that segment as well - with Chrysler leaving cars for SUVs, Alfa being Italian - and Lincoln moving to American Luxury but not really competitive.

Trump will not have much luck changing the US consumers desire for German sports cars until GM repackages its cars to make them more competitive - and that will take longer than Trump has left.

I agree with you, Tom.

I find it strange that The Prez is pissed at the German automakers for selling "too many" cars in the US, as though they had some unfair advantage due to currency (the American Peso?), a cheap labor force, being geographically closer to the market, etc., or they were "dumping" their products, below cost, on US shores. Obviously, none of those are true.

The fact is if you buy a German vehicle (Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, and VW) over an American one, then you'll pay a higher sticker price, you'll pay more for maintenance and repairs, and you'll end up with a shorter feature list. And yet Americans still seem to prefer the German brands (with the exception of VW) over the American equivalent (assuming there is one).

Are we going to vilify the German brands because Americans PREFER their products? Are we going to punish the American people for liking what they like? (i.e., Tariffs: If you don't buy what the government wants you to buy, then they'll take a pile of your money to punish you).

Why not have a serious talk with US automakers, and tell them: If you want to erode German car sales, here and abroad, then create products that put the German's cars to shame! That seems to be a tall order for US automakers. I'd HATE to think they don't do this because they can't, and they can't because they're not smart enough or good enough. That idea upsets me.

Is this coming from the same President that posted a video of himself driving his ROLLS ROYCE with Melania listening to taylor swift!?!?

Someone get this Orange Ape out of the White House

You both are as dumb as bricks. This is all about Germany NOT paying its share for NATO and Trump implying that the USA could strike back economically. The smackdown Trump gave the NATO deadbeats was epic.

The "smackdown" that fu*king psycho idiot gave NATO was an embarrassment. He's not campaigning anymore. He's the President of the U.S. and should start acting with a little dignity and grace.

Trying to force or limit someone's choices in what they choose to buy with their money is ridiculous.

Exactly.

Yet the UK and Japan--to name two--do just that.

All the while, the great orange menace and his "famiglia" continue to make all of their products that they unload on stupid Americans in China...who has a "bigly huge" trade imbalance with the USA.

Maybe he meant to say "the Japanese"? He does tend to misspeak, after all, and Toyota alone sells more cars in the U.S. than all the Germany car companies combined, by quite a wide margin. Toyota sells about as many cars in the U.S. per month as BMW or Benz each sell here over the course of an entire year, and Lexus sells about the same volume as BMW and Benz. Plus there's Honda, too. Sales of German brands here are miniscule by comparison.

You export too much, that's what I want the US to do. Huh?

Please muzzle him someone, anyone...

Oh, and BMW and Mercedes and VW, don't bother operating those big factories in the US anymore, we're going to go it alone from here on out.

As much as I worship Trump as he's the last defender of civil liberties and job securities in American, I regrettably have to admit that he's wrong on this account.

German cars are the best in the world, especially Audi. Just look at the entire lineup of GM and Ford. Every Audi is sportier and drive better than their American counterpart, and cheap too! Wait until Audi finally introduces the A1 and Q1/Q2 to the states, then anyone will be able to buy an Audi for the price of a Kia.

re "...I worship Trump as he's the last defender of civil liberties..."

I just wish his "defense of civil liberties" extended beyond white, wealthy, right-wing, predominantly Christian males.

For interested parties, this is a good article about the absurdity of The Prez's statements: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trumps-ignorance-auto-industry-terrifying-142901482.html?.tsrc=applewf

Some examples:
- Prez said he would stop German automakers from selling "millions of cars" in the US. They actually sell less than a million.
- ALL German car sales, combined, account for a single-digit US market share.
- German automakers already have a strong manufacturing presence in the US, already employing thousands of workers.
- Some German models have the majority of their worldwide production already in the US

The article is definitely worth a read. It's sad how the prez can be so blustery about his opinions, while being so very wrong (as far as the facts are concerned). Maybe we need Kelly Conway to tell us what the prez really meant, and why he's right.

Silly libtards. Trump is an unfiltered, rude, obnoxious & braggadocios New Yorker but he's also Murica greatest cheerleader for industry and bringing back jobs to the US. His message isn't always right or er polished but his heart is in the right place. Give the man a chance to get some shit done already.

Everything Trump is doing is by design and accidentally on purpose. The message is really quite simple: If you want to sell it here -then build it here.
America is a big enough of a market where he can demand and get it. Hence the hard line with Canada -Americas largest trading partner and Mexico re NAFTA and the big Deutsche car companies. He is shaking everyone down hard to get a better deal for the US.

Trump is also calling out all the big US companies with massive offshore holdings and factories like Apple and others to bring the jobs and money back home. This is the thought process of a successful business man -not a politician and one of the reasons I love Trump despite his shortcomings and faux pas.

Reagan was the last great American President (whom was loathed at first by all including his own party) but nobody has worked as hard as Trump to make America great again and foster a business friendly environment. I for one have already decided to move my small manufacturing company to the US because I want those beautiful words "Made in America" on my products.

Trumps biggest problem is 1) his mouth and 2) the republican party whereby half of the GOP is corrupt, inept or closet libtards in denial and part of the swamp that needs to be drained. Calling you McCain, Romney and Ryan. Time to walk the plank into your own cesspool!

Exactly. Jobs need to stay in America. And Audi's need to be made in America, or better yet Germany, and not follow BMW or MB to Mexico.

As much as I love VW AG, moving Golf production to Mexico was the wrong move in my opinion. Still, it didn't stop American Golfs from being a better car than anything Ford or Chevy makes in that class, or even Civics.

"Exactly. Jobs need to stay in America. And Audi's need to be made in America, or better yet Germany, and not follow BMW or MB to Mexico"

Not to let facts get in the way, but Audi didn't follow the other Germans to Mexico, they were the first ones to build a plant there. It opened last year. And to my knowledge they're the only German brand that doesn't build any vehicles in the US. BMW was first to build a plant here and they're actually the largest exporter of vehicles out of the US of vehicles built in the US. That's all brands, including the big guys -- BMW exports the most from the US.

Someone needs to let Trump know that all the X3, X4, X5 and X6 that BMW sells worldwide are manufactured in the US

So many pathological nut case libs here, pathetic. As if that degenerate Bubba Clintstones wife would do a thing for a this nation except line her pantsuit pockets. Love her stupid comments at Wellsley speaking of Nixons impeachment, which did not happen but somehow forgot about the degenerate she's married to, who was impeached. Angry, bitter, arrogant and narcissistic cowards both. Folks that put these degenerates on a pedestal needs therapy, and not at taxpayer expense

xjug1987a: I don't see a single person here saying that Clinton would have done a better job, or that she'd be an awesome Prez. Not one! In fact, the only mention of Clinton here is yours (and my references to you post).

I believe the posts in this thread are merely pointing out The Prez's gaffs because they are gaffs, and because his opinions on this matter are not grounded in facts. That's different than alleging The Prez ain't good 'cuz She'd be better. VERY different. The Prez stands on his own merits (or lack thereof), without needing to compare him to anyone.

The orange ape again.
Untouched by any facts.

Name one fact loser... pathetic

I would not take anything President Trump says as fact or having any basis in reality. He has no filter and just says whatever is on his mind. Any back of a napkin calculation would tell you the Germans have a tiny share of US car sales. Any that they actually have plants in the USA. Trump will be a one term or less President. This soon shall pass. Just ignore it and go back to what you were doing.