Summary
The global auto industry, once buoyed by pandemic-era shortages and high prices, is now facing significant challenges.
Major automakers like Nissan, Ford, and Volkswagen are cutting thousands of jobs and closing factories due to falling demand, competition from Chinese carmakers, and rising protectionism.
Chinese brands, offering cheaper and innovative vehicles, are gaining market share, pressuring Western automakers, particularly in China.
The shift to electric vehicles (EVs) is proving costly, with sluggish demand in some markets and government subsidies declining. Some companies, like GM and Toyota, are faring better with strategic EV and hybrid models.
I’m paying whoever can give me a barebones 4 banger turbo diesel mini truck/van, ute, or station wagon please. With a manual transmission preferably.
The third of America to whom vehicles are tools, not investments or stores of wealth has been screaming for the Hilux for almost 40 years now.
Detroit has always known what the workers want, but the c-suite panders to corporate fleets - and the people approving fleets have no fucking idea what the people in the trenches want - and most importantly neither suite listens to anybody else, especially those “beneath” them.
Out of touch, closed-off business, people and ideas, need to fall off and wither away. All innovation takes place in the field, all innovation involves getting your hands dirty. If your nails aren’t dirty, are you really pulling your weight? Really? Reaaaaaaally. I question that. Seriously. (Not you Baldero, I mean the universal, general strawman you)