The Detroit Free Press had a great article today. http://www.freep.com They talk about how Michiganders still drive American Autos. “45% of households owning a vehicle made by General Motors Corp., 39% a Ford Motor Co. vehicle, and 22% a Chrysler Group car or truck. The poll showed only 15% of Michigan households own a vehicle made by a foreign automaker.”
Its great to see hard numbers that show Americans, driving American vehicles. Michigan is doing a great job supporting the American Autos! I have a feeling though that the overall numbers for the U.S. would not be this high. I lived 4 years in Richmond VA. Virginians drive foreign autos. I spent a few weekends in Washington DC, our nations capital and saw the Foreign Autos out numbered American owned Auto there as well. I even saw Jesse “the Body” Ventura exit from a Mercedes to interview just outside the White House.
I concur. It’s nice to see people driving US manufactured cars here, but most people drive them around here because they get the family discount. I don’t know a single person who isn’t eligible that lives in Metro Detroit.
When I visited northern California a few years ago it’s a different story. Most of the cars I saw on the road were Japanese or European. I would say that US manufactured cars were the *minority* there.
Alas, the problem GM,Ford, and DCX have… Metro Detroit only has 5 million people. There’s still ~275 million people that don’t live in Detroit.
I want to see that list by content of parts manufactured in the US. I drive a Dodge made in Warren by a German company, merger of equals my ass. I only have it because it is an insanely low priced lease of $90 a month (no money down, 15K miles a year)!!!!!! I would probably drive a used Honda if I did not qualify for a EP lease.
I agree about needing to see where the parts were manufactured before claiming a car as “American.” I mean, what about all the Toyotas produced in Kentucky and NUMMI (northern California)? Why don’t those count as American-made cars? Is it because of the origin of the parts??
The purchase of automobiles reflects the values of the market. The Michigan market values the deep discounts they get from their big three employers. I do not own an “American” car, but I support the automotive industry. “American” companies should diversify to meet the wants of the public. They have done so in Michigan by offering discounts, and perhaps should look into working with foreign companies to meet demands elsewhere in the country. As long as these companies meet demands, they will survive, which means the conservation of “American” jobs, which is more important than the country their product was originally manufactured in.