Looking back, the American automotive industry never really had it easy. Prior to the latest chain of events in the past 24 months, quality was lacking for years and American cars just weren't really cutting it.
Although it did take consumers a little bit to catch on, they eventually did and boy weren't the American's caught in a bad spot. Now, to some extent, the American manufacturers are starting to get their groove back -- in my opinion -- but they've still got a long road ahead.
This brings up a good point though; what was the catalyst to this gross misstep? I mean, they do say "If you don't know history, you're doomed to repeat it," right?
We know that in the 1970s quality started to take a dive in a big way. From there things just snowballed into a heaping pile of ...er.
Was it due to union labor? Was it due to poor management choices? Did the top brass at the Detroit Three decide to run the company a different way because laborers weren't up to snuff OR were they just trying to eek out a buck anyway it could after unions bled them dry?
Spies, discuss!
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