Happy New Year 2006, This will be a first for me, a couple of notes or predictions for 2006 for Automobiles.
In Automobiles: Like 2005, 2006 will be more of the same with hybrids and better miles-per-gallon vehicles being the biggest sellers, including the Toyota Prius to the Ford Escape to the higher luxury Lexus 400h… also vehicles like the Chrysler 300C/Dodge Magnum with the HEMI engine will be big too. Most Manufactures are going to have to take a page from Dodge with the HEMI engine that creates good highway MPG and still lots of power on demand. For the American manufactures, there going to have to make there vehicles more reliable and a better value. Consumers are looking for QUALITY, RELIABILITY, and VALUE, including the RESALE VALUE and thats something that American Manufactures don’t have much of right now.
(Quote from Andy Rooney article) According to Consumer Reports that tested a lot of cars and gave their highest reliability rating to 31 of them. Of those 31 most reliable cars, just two were American. The other 29 were Japanese. Of the cars that were least reliable, 22 were American made.
Finally: What is the future of General Motors? In the past year, we have seen the Red Tag sale that just ended and the big Employee Discount program for everyone which sold there cars, but they lost big on every car they sold. Now labor problems and slow sales…
For GM’s Motorsports program on the other hand is winning in almost every series they compete in, including a 2005 Nextel Cup Championship with Tony Stewart, can GM transfer there success on the track to there street division? At the end of 2006, there will be a better picture painted as to the future…
Any thoughts on GM’s future or Automobiles in 2006? Comment below..
