Friday, August 28, 2009

Cash For Clunkers A 'Success' At Exposing Continued Decay at Bailed-Out GM and Chrysler

Cash For Clunkers A 'Success' At Exposing Continued Decay at Bailed-Out GM and Chrysler
"'In contrast, some automakers couldn't really make Cash for Clunkers work for them, and their August sales suffered as a result,' Krebs noted, 'Chrysler and GM — both hurt by extended factory shutdowns during their Chapter 11 proceedings — had limited inventory to feed Cash for Clunkers, while high-end automakers didn't have the right products for these buyers.'
Given the extraordinarily high levels of unsold vehicles GM and Chrysler had on hand earlier this year, I'm not sure that Ms. Krebs's claim about 'limited inventory' holds up, even with the extended shutdowns cited. But even if it does, why wouldn't the geniuses who fashion themselves as 'car czars' have done something about the impending shortage in advance?
The big story in vehicle sales ever since the bailouts of GM and Chrysler commenced in December of last year has been how those two companies have consistently lost market share ever since."

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