Missed The Boat Again

Man. You'd think these guys would have learned a lesson back in the '70s. Bloomberg (05.03.05):

"Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co., Asia's two biggest automakers, said U.S. sales of cars and trucks increased more than 25 percent last month, while sales at General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. declined. Seven of Asia's biggest automakers had gains of 14 percent or more, probably leading the region to a record share of U.S. auto sales in April. It would be the seventh-consecutive month of falling U.S. market share for GM, the No. 1 U.S. automaker, while share at No. 2 Ford has dropped 26 straight months." Toyota, Nissan U.S. Auto Sales Rise; GM, Ford Fall

What the hell happened now? GM and Ford jumped all over bigger, badder and meaner SUVs and trucks (Silverado, TrailBlazer, Explorer, Expedition). The Asians opted for smaller SUVs and gas-electric hybrids. As the numbers bear out, GM and Ford are getting it handed to them. "'The short-term issue is high gas prices, and American companies were betting they could persevere with SUVs,' said Dana Johnson, chief economist for Comerica Bank in Detroit. 'Their lineup in other areas is not as strong. Once they fall behind, they don't have the resources to catch up.'" That and the quality, reliability and resale value of US vehicles basically sucks compared to Toyota and Honda. Even Hyundai is kicking their ass.