Why do American auto workers think we will buy cars just due to rhetoric?

Question

I hear it all the time: buy American. American this, American that. We have xxx.

But after quite possibly thirty years of that strategy FAILING, why do American automakers and their ilk still try and sell cars based on rhetoric, not the car itself?

Where I am coming from with this is that yesterday I was looking at some used car lot, checking prices, and after talking with a sales person for not a minute he said "well you should buy American." No no, nothing about the car, nothing about me, the person forking over $20,000 for a drive way decoration that moves every now and then.

Looking around, I again see more of it online. Overpaid UAW people that go around dissing Japanese and German cars as "Jap Junk" and such. But even when I go to Japanese websites, I almost never see workers from there, even in companies with problems, doing the same diss-work. No, they are more interested in the cars than the rhetoric.

Why are American automakers and co not more like that?

Answer 1

They advertise rhetoric because that's all they have. The domestics have sunk so much money into this rhetoric and "employee pricing" that they still have to use 10 year old technology in their cars. That's why the "Jap Junk" has made its way up the food chain and Ford is a big turd that's ready to be flushed. Toyota just built a couple of new factories in the US, meanwhile Ford is liquidizing its assets and planning to lose billions over the next two years, not to mention the 36,000 or so employees that were bought out.

Toyota is in the position it is because of a focus of continuous improvement and building on the reputation of dependability and reliability. I wish Ford, GM and Chrysler would catch on - healthy competition is the best thing for the auto industry and for the general public because it will help fuel the drive to make better autos.

Answer 2

The only difference in UAW worker and the Japanese worker is that there is a huge number of old and retired auto workers that have huge pensions and benefits.

Whereas the Japanese, they have young workers and virtually no pension costs in USA That gives them the leverage. Wages of Japanese auto worker abroad are higher than UAW here and the USA wage is nearly equal or more.

The american cars are over 50% foriegn parts, Mustang is 60% foriegn. Caprice Chevy is over 55%. So there is no such a thing as an american car.

Ford is near Bankrupt. GM is posting earning based on some kind of phony accounting, so dont go for that scheme of things. Chrysler has a corporate value of Negitive. so its worth ZERO.\

I dont pay attention any more to foriegn or american makes . I buy what i want and need. Foriegn name or American name they are about the same.

Jap junk, hardly, the Toyota if youve owned one runs forever.

Answer 3

I have worked at Toledo Jeep Wrangler assembly for 29 years and I feel you should buy any car you like.What we don't like is when UAW workers and American cars are bashed all the time.Instead of reading what Consumer Report says which is no more than a paid add why don't people go out and test drive the vehicles and compare both foriegn and domestic.When we say buy American,do you know that half of all Toyota's sold in US are imported,and because of artifically undervalued Yen by the Japan goverment and auto makers they make $4500avg on each vehicle imported?Toyota employes about 38000 direct workers in US while Chrysler alone employes about 80000.Also because of our goverment US auto makers have to pay health benefits while in Japan they do not,if we had a national health plan we would be much better off.As far as being overpaid,what do you consider overpaid,how much do you think we make,how much do you think US Toyota workers make?So I believe people should buy whatever they like,competion is good for everyone.Ryan don't you think Chrysler,GM and Ford aren't focusing on improving quality.All cars are built the same.on an assembly line.We take as much pride in our work as Toyota!

Answer 4

Doesn't matter anyway. most Japanese cars are built in America and American cars are built offshore. So go "Buy American Made" if you want to ... buy a Honda or Toyota.