Another point of view!

[phoonfan]

With the media doing their best to continue the lack of consumer confidence regarding the economy and the "Attention Grabbing" headlines regarding the Auto makers in the US, this article written by one dealer in the US puts a very different spin on the situation for the American Auto companies


"Letter to the Editor" a Ford dealership owner to The Inter-Mountain.

Editor:

As I watch the coverage of the fate of the U.S. auto industry, one
alarming and frustrating fact hits me right between the eyes. The fate of
our nation's economic survival is in the hands of some congressmen who are
completely out of touch and act without knowledge of an industry that
affects almost every person in our nation. The same lack of knowledge is
shared with many journalists whom are irresponsible when influencing the
opinion of millions of viewers.

Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama has doomed the industry, calling it a
dinosaur. No Mr. Shelby, you are the dinosaur, with ideas stuck in the
'70s, '80s and '90s. You and the uninformed journalist and senators that
hold onto myths that are not relevant in today's world.

When you say that the Big Three build vehicles nobody wants to buy, you
must have overlooked that GM outsold Toyota by about 1.2 million vehicles
in the U.S. and Ford outsold Honda by 850,000 and Nissan by 1.2 million in
the U.S. GM was the world's No. 1 automaker beating Toyota by 3,000 units.

When you claim inferior quality comes from the Big Three, did you realize
that Chevy makes the Malibu and Ford makes the Fusion that were both rated
over the Camry and Accord by J.D. Power independent survey on initial
quality? Did you bother to read the Consumer Report that rated Ford on par
with good Japanese automakers.

Did you realize Big Three's gas guzzlers include the 33 mpg Malibu that
beats the Accord. And for '09 Ford introduces the Hybrid Fusion whose 39
mpg is the best midsize, beating the Camry Hybrid. Ford's Focus beats the
Corolla and Chevy's Cobalt beats the Civic.

When you ask how many times are we going to bail them out you must be
referring to 1980. The only Big Three bailout was Chrysler, who paid back
$1 billion, plus interest. GM and Ford have never received government aid.

When you criticize the Big Three for building so many pickups, surely
you've noticed the attempts Toyota and Nissan have made spending billions
to try to get a piece of that pie. Perhaps it bothers you that for 31
straight years Ford's F-Series has been the best selling vehicle. Ford and
GM have dominated this market and when you see the new '09 F-150 you'll
agree this won't change soon.

Did you realize that both GM and Ford offer more hybrid models than Nissan
or Honda. Between 2005 and 2007, Ford alone has invested more than $22
billion in research and development of technologies such as Eco Boost, flex
fuel, clean diesel, hybrids, plug in hybrids and hydrogen cars.

It's 2008 and the quality of the vehicles coming out of Detroit are once
again the best in the world.

Perhaps Sen. Shelby isn't really that blind. Maybe he realizes the quality
shift to American. Maybe it's the fact that his state of Alabama has given
so much to land factories from Honda, Hyundai and Mercedes Benz that he is
more concerned about their continued growth than he is about the people of
our country. Sen. Shelby's disdain for 'government subsidies' is very
hypocritical. In the early '90s he was the driving force behind a $253
million incentive package to Mercedes. Plus, Alabama agreed to purchase
2,500 vehicles from Mercedes. While the bridge loan the Big Three is
requesting will be paid back, Alabama's $180,000-plus per job was pure
incentive. Sen. Shelby, not only are you out of touch, you are a
self-serving hypocrite, who is prepared to ruin our nation because of lack
of knowledge and lack of due diligence in making your opinions and
decisions.

After 9/11, the Detroit Three and Harley Davidson gave $40 million-plus
emergency vehicles to the recovery efforts. What was given to the 9/11
relief effort by the Asian and European Auto Manufactures? $0 Nada. Zip!

We live in a world of free trade, world economy and we have not been able
to produce products as cost efficiently. While the governments of other
auto producing nations subsidize their automakers, our government may be
ready to force its demise. While our automakers have paid union wages,
benefits and legacy debt, our Asian competitors employ cheap labor. We are
at an extreme disadvantage in production cost. Although many UAW
concessions begin in 2010, many lawmakers think it's not enough.

Some point the blame to corporate management. I would like to speak of
Ford Motor Co. The company has streamlined by reducing our workforce by
51,000 since 2005, closing 17 plants and cutting expenses. Product and
future product is excellent and the company is focused on one Ford. This is
a company poised for success. Ford product quality and corporate management
have improved light years since the nightmare of Jacques Nasser. Thank you
Alan Mulally and the best auto company management team in the business.


The financial collapse caused by the secondary mortgage fiasco and the
greed of Wall Street has led to a $700 billion bailout of the industry that
created the problem. AIG spent nearly $1 million on three company
excursions to lavish resorts and hunting destinations. Paulson is saying no
to $250 billion foreclosure relief and the whole thing is a mess. So when
the Big Three ask for 4 percent of that of the $700 billion, $25 billion to
save the country's largest industry, there is obviously oppositions. But
does it make sense to reward the culprits of the problem with $700 billion
unconditionally, and ignore the victims?

As a Ford dealer, I feel our portion of the $25 billion will never be
touched and is not necessary. Ford currently has $29 billion of liquidity.
However, the effect of a bankruptcy by GM will hurt the suppliers we all do
business with. A Chapter 11 bankruptcy by any manufacture would cost
retirees their health care and retirements. Chances are GM would recover
from Chapter 11 with a better business plan with much less expense. So who
foots the bill if GM or all three go Chapter 11? All that extra health
care, unemployment, loss of tax base and some forgiven debt goes back to
the taxpayer, us. With no chance of repayment, this would be much worse
than a loan with the intent of repayment.

So while it is debatable whether a loan or Chapter 11 is better for the Big
Three, a $25 billion loan is definitely better for the taxpayers and the
economy of our country.

So I'll end where I began on the quality of the products of Detroit. Before
you, Mr. or Ms. Journalist continue to misinform the American public and
turn them against one of the great industries that helped build this
nation, I must ask you one question. Before you, Mr. or Madam Congressman
vote to end health care and retirement benefits for 1 million retirees,
eliminate 2.5 million of our nation's jobs, lose the technology that will
lead us in the future and create an economic disaster including hundreds of
billions of tax dollars lost, I ask this question not in the rhetorical
sense. I ask it in the sincere, literal way. Can you tell me, have you
driven a Ford lately?

Jim Jackson
Elkins Ford