2009 By The Numbers: Will Detroit Call Dad?
The tally is in and yes, Ford saw the first market share increase since 1995. But I have to say that when I read the quote from, Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing Sales and Service. ““Ford’s plan is working,” I laughed so hard they herd me in the next building.
Did he miss that Ford’s sales were off 16% for the year while his two largest competitors were off 36% and 30% and even yet Ford failed to pickup more of the market than they did??? Was it Detroit’s plan for automotive industry jobs to fall from 1.32 million in 1999 to 658,000 today. Detroit can spin it however they want, it’s scary to think how we human beings are so stubborn that even with our face totally in the mud we won’t ask for help or admit there is a problem. I include myself in that group far too often so I am not surprised at all by Detroit’s problem.
There are many answers in those year end automotive numbers, even more hope for the American Auto industry than most of us could possibly imagine. Let me share some with you.
One huge lesson is looking at the only major automaker who gained not only market share, but more importantly sales, in a down market sales were up 9% Hyundai/Kia. Why? Hyundai/Kia is selling AFFORDABLE, AFFORDABLE, AFFORDABLE, economical transportation to a country up to their ears in car debt.
Even more eye opening than that is the Chinese and Indian automotive markets. With China’s now larger than our own 11.3 million to our 10.4. Get ready for this: Americans have over 2 cars per family; the Chinese have 1.2 cars for every 1000 people. The potential for car sales in China and India are staggering. We could put far more Americans to work in the auto industry then any stimulus Uncle Sam could dream up.
How could we do it? History has the answer. Henry Ford set out to build a car that the average American could afford, (without going into debt to get it) and put thousands to work doing it. Were we to take a page from Henry’s book and start fresh with simply the only option to build a car that THE WORLD could afford to buy we would put millions to work.
Where could Detroit find such wisdom? THE BIBLE, “Love your neighbor as yourself”, or “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. That’s just some of the wisdom available would Detroit turn to Dad for some answers. God is patiently standing by waiting for American Auto Companies to humble themselves and pray and really ask for help.
