NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #3/NN_1993_3.iso/spool/rec/autos/32503

Internet Message Format | 1993-01-23 | 3.5 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!news.tek.com!tekig7!tekig5!jitloke
From: [e-mail] (Jit-Loke Lim)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Politics of car buying
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 22 Jan 93 21:14:59 GMT
References: <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>
Sender: [e-mail]
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton,  OR.
Lines: 61

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Spiros Triantafyllopoulos) writes:

<stuff about Japan selling to Germany etc deleted>

>As for who outsells who, you have to examine things like dealer networks,
>availability of parts, relevant laws which pretty much outlaw big engines
>(as in many other parts of Europe), etc etc.

So why can't we have better dealer networks, better availability of parts,
and build smaller engines that circumvent those laws instead of just
complaining. These are just normal obstacles that are part of running a business. Other manufacturers do OK.

>
>The two are related; if a company has a decent market share then it is
>worth for them to go to the trouble of setting up a decent dealer
>network and vice versa. A classic example of that was last year when I

You DON'T set up a decent dealer network AFTER you gain decent market share.
You set up a very good dealer network and WORK at it till you gain market
share. Similarly, You don't gain market share, then put the steering wheel
on the correct side.(Japan is NOT the only country that drives the "wrong" way).

>visited Greece, and had a few GM brochures with me (annual report
>etc). I was discussing with some friends who all drive 2 liter
>Japanese trucks (nothing else is available) and they all commented on
>how desirable BIG trucks would be for them (construction businesses,
>agriculture, livestock, load hauling, towing, etc). Since they'd be
>for professional use they wouldn't have to pay steep taxes even for
>big cars. Yet US truck makers don't sell there; the volume is too low.
>Is it worth setting up a dealer network for such low volumes?

So can we figure out how to sell limited numbers of trucks and still make
a profit instead of giving excuses? And, "some of your friends who all drive
2 liter Japanese trucks", how come they're not driving GMs. Market too small,
import restrictions, dumping? Everytime I watch CNN, I see Japanese vehicles
in the strangest places. I mean, the bandits in Somalia were hauling around
in modified Toyotas. Why the hell aren't we selling in Somalia? Oh, because
we don't sell Chevys to bandits? Because the market in Somalia is to small?
Then how does Toyota do it? Oh, Yes, they're dumping trucks in Somalia.

>Finally, look at markets where TRADITIONAL US cars compete against
>others; We seem to be doing well in the Middle East, particularily the
>oil countries. Different requirements there of course; but we do build
>for these requirements (I've seen auto press reports of modifications

I guess by "build for these requirements", you mean we have something existing
that would be just right for these oil rich countries. I sure hope you don't
think we designed cars targeted for these oil countries. It is a global
economy and we'd better figure out how to sell cars to not just the US or
Japan.

>Spiros Triantafyllopoulos                    [e-mail]
>Software Technology, Delco Electronics       [phone]
>GM Hughes Electronics, Kokomo, IN 46904      [A Different Kind of Disclaimer]


Jit