[theunchosen]

Originally Posted by botsapper

My simple brain likes to boil it down as simple as possible. The American executives' job is to make their companies and shareholders as much money as possible. Introduce vehicle types and models that would have their assembly lines humming to supply their thousands of global dealers. They put out a minivan, Caravan, and sold millions. They introduce a purpose built electric car, EV1, and for market analysis & marketing feasibility. The technology support, infrastructure & market was not there and lost the company 80K for every returned & shredded car. They show aero vehicles, Probe concepts, at various car shows that the public just ignored. People prefer the return of the Mustang instead. Gas is relatively cheap so they have to sell & make billions on the most successful model line, the F-150. The SUVs were the logical progression of these truck platforms and made even more billions on them. Everyone made them. Really simple, they have to make stuff that people buy. It is that car executive's duty to sell 'em or the shareholders will fire their a** for missing 'that' boat. So that combined dysfunctional addiction was horribly set. The global economy & trade changes and this dysfunction could not change or not fast enough. Company cities & legacy corporations die or disappear. So long, GM & Chrysler. Out of the ashes, small, smarter, & innovative entrepreneurial spirits introduce new ideas & products that people will want & buy.
And my head didn't hurt a bit.

You're assuming that there is no government intervention(which there will be). They will insert their nasty fingers and the US auto industry will limp on in its elephantitis state until someone has the guts to let it die and let out a whole sack full of new business creatures with car ideas.