Markets have a way of balancing themselves, particularly when consumer demand overwhelms entrenched suppliers of goods. The US automotive market is undergoing a massive populist driven transformation. Detroit automakers are fighting for survival, can they innovate? Will Detroit compete in a market based economy, anymore? AutoBlog Green reports on India based Mahindra’s plans for diesel, and diesel-hybrid ,vehicle offerings in the US for the 08 model year.
As usual Detroit doesn’t get it. They spend so much effort to fight better mileage, effort that should and could be put into innovation to give consumers what they want and what is needed. Are we seeing the one-two punch? The first punch was the gas shock in the seventies and their failure to answer it or the challenge of the Japanese automakers. Is this the second punch? I have no doubt that the US automakers will again fail to respond appropriately. This is why when my Saturn died I had no trouble buying my TDI and getting the mileage I should. It is unfortunate that VW and Toyota are part of the coalition. Any thoughts on why Ford is not?