Six Myths About the Detroit 3 Automakers

Mark Phelan writes about the dreck that has been thrown at the Detroit-based automakers in the national media in today’s Detroit Free Press.  I have heard these spouted by the talking heads on CNBC’s morning shows and by Cokie Roberts on ABC’s “This Week” yesterday.  It’s past time that these hurtful and untrue myths were challenged.  I just wish it was happening on the business shows and national news broadcasts.

Here’s a link to the article in the Freep:

6 Myths about the Detroit 3

Here’s an excerpt:

The debate over aid to the Detroit-based automakers is awash with half-truths and misrepresentations that are endlessly repeated by everyone from members of Congress to journalists. Here are six myths about the companies and their vehicles, and the reality in each case.

Myth No. 1

Nobody buys their vehicles.

Reality

General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC sold 8.5 million vehicles in the United States last year and millions more around the world. GM outsold Toyota by about 1.2 million vehicles in the United States last year and holds a U.S. lead over Toyota of about 560,000 so far this year. Globally, GM in 2007 remained the world’s largest automaker, selling 9,369,524 vehicles worldwide — about 3,000 more than Toyota.

Ford outsold Honda by about 850,000 and Nissan by more than 1.3 million vehicles in the United States last year.

Chrysler sold more vehicles here than Nissan and Hyundai combined in 2007 and so far this year.