Book Irony: GM's Glory Days and the Big Three Bailout

The U.S. auto industry's past mistakes are a matter of record.

But, in fact, they are producing some excellent cars today, not all garbage.

And GM has announced a 2010 product line that is full of hybrids and fuel efficient vehicles.

The media feeding frenzy that paints TODAY's U.S. auto industry as totally inept is totally unfortunate.

Comments such as Mr. Bedard's serve to support misconceptions that could keep the industry from getting funding it needs.

And anyone who thinks that a Steve Jobs-type management team can swoop in and effect a great instant "turnaround" knows nothing about what it takes to run an automobile company.

Likewise, if the US auto industry is allowed to fail, it will take years to resurrect it.

I am a classic car enthusiast, and I bought the Art and Colour book, and the photography aside (which is indeed superb, in my opinion), the text tells the story of how difficult it is to design cars, how it takes years, how one decision one way or another can mean the difference between success and failure.

If the current design groups at U.S. car companies disband, getting it all back together and getting real products from drawing board to production will take many years, and is likely to be a step backward, not forward, in producing the cars America needs.

I am all in favor of all kinds of oversight, and requirements for accountability and transparency as conditions of funding for the auto industry, but anyone who thinks bankruptcy is the answer just doesn't know anything about what it takes to produce any automobile, let alone a great one.

Let's stop knee-jerk trashing of the U.S. carmakers and start focusing on the facts.

For what it's worth: I have no ties to nor interest in GM or any other part of that industry. But I do love great cars, and I am rooting for the domestic industry, which has indeed recently produced cars that show it can still get it done.

Finally: As a matter of national security, America needs a strong manufacturing base owned by American companies. Supporting a car industry that is very likely to be profitable and self-supporting is a cheap way to accomplish that.

On the other hand, even if we have to nationalize the domestic car industry to save it, we need the manufacturing capability (remember WWII anyone?).

Classic Car Lover of NY 10:01AM November 22, 2008