Editor's Note: This week, Peter discusses the now-quaint notion of company loyalty, especially as it relates to the auto industry, and warns of a future that that looks anything but bright. In On The Table, the all-new 2027 Lexus TZ, the brand’s first three-row, all-electric, AWD SUV, has been unveiled. We also take another look at the fantastic Nichols N1A, as well as Audi Tradition's recreation of the company's record-breaking Auto Union Lucca. Plus, we also have an update on Peter's book. Our video of the week takes us back to the 1969 Daytona 24 Hour. Our AE Song of the Week is "Stay" (I Missed You) by Lisa Loeb. In Fumes, Peter presents the next chapter of his series, "The Great Races," with a look back at the early Cobra vs. Corvette battles at Riverside International Raceway, in California. And in The Line, we'll have INDYCAR results from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course and MotoGP from Le Mans, France. Onward! -WG
By Peter M. De Lorenzo
Detroit. Long ago, in a USA far, far away, the company brain was wildly different than it is today. People gravitated to jobs at companies big and small across America with intent and purpose, for personal satisfaction and of course, seeking to provide for themselves and their families. No, it wasn’t as syrupy a portrayal as the typical family TV shows from the 50s and early 60s, but make no mistake, the plan of working at a company with the idea of security for The Future was front and center for most people.
America was different back then, of course. The entire country was on an upward trajectory across all spectrums, from space technology to the exponential economic growth that was propelling the country forward. It turned out to be a painfully brief interlude, however, as burgeoning factions in our society became consumed with fighting the status quo, while ultimately attempting to rectify societal inequality. I’m not going to rehash all of the earth-shaking developments of the 60s, but needless to say, those events rocked this country to its core, and it remains the most tumultuous and consequential decade in American history for a number of reasons.
Despite all of the earth-shattering change that emerged from that decade, the concept of working for a company for a secure future was still valid. And out of that notion emerged the idea that loyalty to that company would ultimately be rewarded with financial security and a level of stability that could actually be attained in real time.
But alas, that was not to be. Yes, the notion of loyalty to a company was still valid to a very limited degree, but the economic realities driven by technology – both good and bad – became a swirling maelstrom for entire industries and in turn, millions of employees across the nation. Jobs were lost, and the traditional ways of doing business were fundamentally altered, if not discarded altogether.
Fast forward to today, and any sense of company loyalty has disappeared due to chaotic economic forces inevitably out of employees’ control. The company-oriented individual state of mind that was so focused on loyalty in the past is now focused on fundamental survival.
And why shouldn’t that be the case?
Companies jettison employees left and right, sometimes at a moment’s notice. Mistakes by upper-level company operatives, which have cost companies billions, are routinely swept under the rug, while those same operatives get rewarded financially, in some cases to a sickening degree. Meanwhile, company employees, even the heretofore True Believers, are left bitter, angry and in worst-case scenarios, permanently unemployed.
This situation has been exacerbated lately, especially when it pertains to the automobile industry. The “all-in” commitments to EVs by the auto companies and their suppliers backfired horribly when the current administration in place in Washington pulled the plug on EV incentives, while apparently wanting to take vehicle emissions standards back to the Stone Age. This has cost the auto manufactures and their suppliers dearly. In fact, the amount is approaching $100 billion dollars with a capital “B.”
But it should also be pointed out that the auto manufacturers are not totally blameless in this situation. Some of these corporations way overcommitted to the notion of becoming something that they most assuredly aren’t – tech companies that just so happen to build automobiles. And this was a monumental mistake. Ford and GM in particular completely blew it in this regard. Not that the time, energy and development work on EVs won’t prove to be beneficial in the future, because it most definitely will. There is no doubt that EVs will play a huge role in our transportation landscape going forward, but these two companies attempted to accelerate the adoption of EVs by car-buying consumers who didn’t warm to the idea and who simply weren’t ready for it. Again, it cost billions and it cost massive amounts of jobs, and true to form, no CEOs were harmed by this. In fact, their pay packages only grew that much more.
What’s wrong with this picture? A lot. Let’s consider Toyota for instance. This company was severely chastised for not jumping on the EV bandwagon. Instead, it hedged its bets by offering hybrids, while it took its time to evaluate the situation. And guess what? It was a shrewd decision and they were right. Not only that, but Toyota has now expanded its EV offerings when the other manufacturers are being forced to backpedal.
So, it’s no wonder that loyalty to a company has become a quaint notion from a distant era. Younger generations have been roundly criticized for changing jobs as often as changing underwear, while not being the least bit loyal. To that I have to ask, loyal to what exactly? There is no “there” there, in fact there’s nothing left to that hoary concept.
People lament the fact that “What’s in it for me?” has become the American mantra (I too have found myself saying the same thing at times). But it’s part and parcel of the America we live in today, and there’s just no getting around it.
Add to this the relentless onslaught of AI, which threatens to decimate human jobs across this country and around the world in all industries, and you have a giant bowl of Not Good and a recipe for certain disaster.
And that’s the High-Octane Truth for this week.
Editor's Note: Click on "Next 1 Entries" at the bottom of this page to see previous issues. - WG
Sunday, May 10, 2026 at 07:41AM