Feb 20 2009 23 mins
'Auto' Asphyxia
There's a disease running rampant around America. It's not new, we've seen it before - just never such a virulent strain. It attacks the breathing, or as some describe it the lifeblood of our economy, the auto industry. Its symptoms can be seen in not only the board rooms around the country, but in the design studios, factory floors and dealer lots alike. And despite the billions in monetary oxygen that's been pumped into them recently, the companies cannot yet wean themselves from the government's ventilator.
Given what we've seen the question needs to be asked, is today's auto industry -- the manufacturing giant that reshaped our lives -- on its last breath? If annual sales of 10 or 11 million are any indication certainly the industry of the last decade is gone; and given the economic times, perhaps gone for good.
Joining John McElroy to discuss the stability, viability & health of the auto industry are three of the foremost automotive journalists/analysts in America today: John Stoll from The Wall Street Journal, Tom Walsh of the Detroit Free Press and Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics.
So take a deep breath and don't be afraid to exhale as our Autoline panel explores this "Auto" Asphyxia phenomenon this week on Autoline Detroit.
There's a disease running rampant around America. It's not new, we've seen it before - just never such a virulent strain. It attacks the breathing, or as some describe it the lifeblood of our economy, the auto industry. Its symptoms can be seen in not only the board rooms around the country, but in the design studios, factory floors and dealer lots alike. And despite the billions in monetary oxygen that's been pumped into them recently, the companies cannot yet wean themselves from the government's ventilator.
Given what we've seen the question needs to be asked, is today's auto industry -- the manufacturing giant that reshaped our lives -- on its last breath? If annual sales of 10 or 11 million are any indication certainly the industry of the last decade is gone; and given the economic times, perhaps gone for good.
Joining John McElroy to discuss the stability, viability & health of the auto industry are three of the foremost automotive journalists/analysts in America today: John Stoll from The Wall Street Journal, Tom Walsh of the Detroit Free Press and Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics.
So take a deep breath and don't be afraid to exhale as our Autoline panel explores this "Auto" Asphyxia phenomenon this week on Autoline Detroit.