- Jalopnik – Car And Driver Prank Awakens NASCAR To Real World – NASCAR April Fools – Car and Driver, not recently known for either humor or relevance but benefiting from a revival under new EiC Eddie Alterman, reported President Obama had ordered Chevy and Dodge out of NASCAR as part of an April Fool's Day prank. NASCAR didn't get the joke, with many teams, fans, executives and assorted rednecks believing the news. That shock has apparently awoken the above parties to the real possibility of losing the support of two brands most closely associated with going fast and turning left and instead relying on the support of newcomers like Toyota. While NASCAR claims it'd survive both financially and emotionally, we get the feeling that they're pouring a little cheap beer out for their homies at the not-so-Big Three. Humor's always best when it causes the target to get all introspective, thus proving they never really got the joke.
Posts Tagged: ford
31
Mar 09
Privatized Social Safety Nets as Incentives
Ford and General Motors are joining Hyundai in providing payment protection for buyers as an incentive. Initial results have shown that buyers have not utilized Hyundai’s plan as of yet, but the presence of the plan is correlated with better sales than Hyundai’s peers.
12
Jan 09
What’s not good for General Motors is not good for the country, either.
I strongly feel that the events playing out in the automobile industry are proxy for what is going on (and will go on) in the greater economy. This is not good.
By examining the causes, effects, and outcomes regarding automobiles, we see a landscape that in no way resembles the old order. Companies, brands, dealers, suppliers, consumer preferences, buying habits, and entire American institutions will be unrecognizable.
We are at an interregenum across our entire society. The old order is dead, and the new order has yet to be established. If you think this is solely a domestic (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) problem, you are seriously mistaken.
30
Dec 08
For one GM dealer, the inevitable could no longer be delayed
In October 2008, there was a moving article in the Philadelphia Inquirer about Scott Eckenhoff’s dealership’s valiant yet futile attempt to save his family business through individual sacrifice by the entirety of the dealership’s employees:
Eckenhoff’s business [link], a General Motors dealership that had been relatively healthy just months earlier, was suddenly a credit-squeezed enterprise holding on for dear life.
So two weeks ago, after praying with his family and pulling an all-nighter in front of his computer, Eckenhoff drew up a rescue plan. Half his employees, including a stepbrother, would have to be let go. It was awful.
The day of the layoffs, though, something unexpected happened: The mechanics who had not been fired marched into Eckenhoff’s office. “What can we do to help?” asked the men in grimy work gear.
With that, the lines that had long separated manager from minions, khaki-clad salesmen from grease-smeared mechanics, vanished. The survivors – the salesmen, associates and receptionists spared the ax – had become a single crew trying to save their ship.
At the time, I instinctively knew he was only delaying the inevitable.
3
Dec 08
Carmageddon!!1
After the atrocious sales figures for the month of November with sales are at their lowest point in 26-years with per capita sales at their lowest levels since the 1950s, its fairly easy to forecast what comes next – widespread dealer liquidations.
18
Nov 08
Changing the Automotive Business Model
I have no idea whether they will be successful or not, but Carbon Motors has an interesting take and re-imagining of the business model for sales to law enforcement.
Federal, state, local, and private security and law enforcement entities had for generations been solid and steady consumers of Detroit’s legacy body-on-frame automobiles, up until recently purchasing rear-wheel drive Ford Crown Victorias and Dodge Chargers. Other models included Chevrolet Tahoes, Dodge Magnums, and a handful of front-wheel drive Chevrolet Impalas. The imminent demise of the Crown Vic, the only model with no relevant consumer market, leaves a quandary for the institutional consumer but an opportunity for entrepreneurism.
Enter Carbon Motors.
13
Nov 08
Respect the Van.
2008 marks the 25th year of Mopar’s minivan(s) – the Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Town & Country, and the no-longer produced Plymouth Voyager (unofficial history here at Allpar), to be celebrated by a 25th Anniversary Edition with a (much-needed) revamped interior.
10
Aug 08
There Has Never Been A Successful Conspiracy in the History of the United States.
It’s a damn shame, the things that we’re left to wonder. Can you safely assume there was no shooter on the grassy knoll? That ‘DC Madam’ Palfrey committed suicide? Or that alleged anthrax-attacker Bruce Ivins worked alone? Or that the heroic passengers of Flight 93 brought the plane down, and not a US missile?
Did you see this story in the Post (and reprinted today on page 2 in the Inky)?
