Automotive Death Watch

[regfootball]

Suzuki was bringing the Swift here i thought. the Kizashi is getting a v6 and the Sx4 lineup is expanding. Suzuki downsized their dealer network but i think they see any USA sales as gravy and between their 4-5 lines of tightly focused niche vehicles, i think they see it as being able to amortize their operation elsewhere in the world.

Mits, kind of the same deal. i know they are downsizing a few of their products and possibly bringing a unique product or two here. they can exist on Lancer, Galant, Outlander, Eclipse. they will prob bring that little electric car here and jury is still out on a large crossover replacement (that is badly needed). In fact, Mits has gotten aggressive in pitching the Lancer with many sportback ads and lots of advertising for lease or buy offers on the Lancer. and they don't want to lose the EVO crowd.

the fact that few current brands are willing to go down is why i wonder why Fiat cares about this market. It will be easier to sell dodges and chryslers instead of Fiat badges, but the conquest attitude is the same. i guess the market volume has to swing back up soon and maybe that is when fiat thinks they have a chance to gain a foothold.

you gotta wonder though why Citroen, Pueguot, and Renault havent set up shop. I think the question is more about who is not coming here and who is growing their business, as opposed to who is leaving. Because clearly Mits and Suzuki should have been killed off by this recession as much as anyone, yet no whimpers from either really.

Myself I would prefer to see Honda, toyota, and Nissan kicked in the nuts a little and lose a fair amount of share before i see any loss of variety in this market.....

part of the explosive market growth in the early part of this decade was due to people's desire to drive brands and cars that are NOT bread and butter makes. 'i dont want a chevy'....could just as easily be turning into 'i don't want to drive a stupid toyota' or 'i don't want JUST a Honda' when the big buying wave starts again. smaller brands have a chance to gain share from that way even though they compete in the lesser price classes and not among the many lux brands.

Oddly enough, Chrysler as Fiat may have a better chance to make profit on a smaller scale, and gain back somewhat of an exotic status in this regard.

I think makers like VW and Subaru, and now Buick, have great chances to increase share in this new car buying climate.

Edited November 29, 2009 by regfootball

[A Horse With No Name]

I would agree on VW, Buick, and Suburu.

Chris