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Nothing's changing.

I don't think anybody in the Bigelow-carpeted suites in Motown really cares. Average transaction prices for new vehicles seems stuck at over $50K, and the truck aftermarket is booming. Ms. Barra and Mr Farley see the same lifted, 39 inch-shod Silverado HD's and Super Duty's doing 75-80mph on the way to work as you and I and everyone here does, "Yep, life is still good." $48K Civics? Nothing's changing. 53 years ago we mandated a 55mph national speed limit, built satellite parking lots for car poolers, and now whine about fuel prices and do little or nothing about our personal lifestyles "Gee, maybe put the stock rubber back on and slow down 'til gas prices come down." Notgonnahappendotcom.

Chris Blanchard
Prescott, Wisconsin



Greed is Not Good.

Alfred P. Sloan must be rolling over in his grave. Latest U.S. sales figures have GM #1, Toyota #2, Ford #3, and with Hyundai/Kia very close to #3. Then you read that the Detroit Three will have its lowest market share ever at 36%.

OK, so people will say they are making billions so forget about market share. Not if people keep turning to hybrids and EVs. Has anyone learned ANYTHING in the 50 years since Japanese vehicles really started gaining a foothold. No doubt there are many employees at the Detroit Three who truly care about their companies, but they are probably stymied by unbelievable politics. Gordon Gekko was wrong. In the case of these three companies, greed doesn't work.

DG
Rochester, Michigan



Affordability?

The wizened wizards at the big 3 have had more than ample opportunity to create such vehicles, with the foreign made Chevy Trax being the sole example. All three dumped all of their collective lower price models into the bin, chasing fatter profits from large SUVs and trucks. And even there the quality is beginning to nosedive as prices climb upward. Apparently, only the Japanese and Koreans kept the faith and are now grabbing more unit market share with their CARS. Who'd a thought?

If, and when, Chinese cars start rolling into the NA market you can bet FordaGMellantis will be crying for government funds to bail their sorry asses out. I will feel no pity for the shareholders. Their collective assets should be sold and distributed to their unemployed workers. It's no wonder my 30-something kids are depressed about their futures. Activist shareholders and private equity have stolen their futures and tucked the loot into their mattresses.

In the meantime, I continue to perfect my Grumpy Old Man mantra.

Jim Jones
Cole County, Missouri



The Looming Hangover.

EVs are now mainstream in the Green Leafy Burbs, my non car enthusiast friends are discussing the electric box installation in the Garage.

While we rightly don't want Chinese cars dumped on the US market, even though the prices are realistic, the real problem is that we are sitting out the rest of the world. Once the fever breaks, and it will, eventually, our industry will be Baldwin Locomotives in 1945, not ready for the sea change of diesel trains.

They'll make some money on the big SUVs for a few years, but there will be a hangover they may not survive.

Casey Raskob, Esq
Green Leafy Burbs, New York City