Published by Mr. Contrarian
There are past successes at GM. The relative success of GM’s Europe and Asian subsidiaries shows that. One such article from three years ago shows that GM, given the correct direction, can indeed make small efficient vehicles that people want to buy.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/08/08/business/van.php
Unfortunately, it chose to continue researching, developing, producing, and selling behemoth guzzlers that no […]
. Nov 23, 2008
Filed under: Automotive, Changing business models, bankruptcy, Big Three, Chrysler, domestic three, Ford, General Motors, GM
Published by Mr. Contrarian
It looks like i’m not the only guy to have figured out that the world works in cycles. Just look at the fashion industry—bell-bottoms have come and gone……….and come again. I’ve seen acid-wash jeans twice now. What’s next?–shoulder pads for womens’ jackets again?
Patrick Bedard is one of the old-hands at Car&Driver. This is one smart […]
. Nov 23, 2008
Filed under: Automotive, Pop Culture, long-term cycles, collector cars, depreciation, fads, in-fashion, inflation, market trends, muscle cars, out-of-fashion, Patrick Bedard, Pop Culture
Published by Mr. Contrarian
Approximately five years ago, i read an article of how one researcher was applying wave theory to traffic jams. The simple premise being that traffic jams could be define with a formula describing a wave. This is a micro-example of my premise being that long-term economic forces shape human behaviours and thoughts over a period […]
. Nov 23, 2008
Filed under: Automotive, long-term cycles, economic cycle, economic wave, Traffic, traffic jams, wave-theory
Published by Mr. Contrarian
Students of history will recall that after Japan attacked Pearl Harbour, the US industrial machine mobilized from its depression-induced coma, and pulled out all stops in the production of all sorts of military machinery and equipment. During the Remembrance Day holiday two weeks ago, I watched a TV special that stated the auto-production apparatus of […]
. Nov 21, 2008
Filed under: Automotive, Politics, long-term cycles, china, GM, industrial capacity, military, US Military
Published by Mr. Contrarian
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/gm-is-a-joke/
Fantastic. Even small companies are taking potshots at GM’s profitability. Avon’s market capitalization is greater than GM’s now. Even Amway, if it were a public company, given corporate profits of $1B and a 8x P:E ratio, would also be worth more than GM.
GM is on the ropes, and it’s rapidly falling market value as a […]
. Nov 21, 2008
Filed under: Automotive, Changing business models, bailout, bankruptcy, Chrysler, Ford, GM, restructure, the Big Three
Published by Mr. Contrarian
GM has now become a near-penny stock. GM’s business model is broken, and it could be argued that the unions were overly successful in sucking all the blood out of its employer, GM. The secret to every good parasite is that you’re not supposed to kill your very kind host!!! Not much point being Tommy […]
. Nov 21, 2008
Filed under: Automotive, Changing business models, bailout, bankruptcy, Big Three and China, bloodsuckers, bridge loan, Chery, Chevy, china, China buying Big Three, China buying Ford, China buying GM, China buying Jeep, Chrysler, Ford, GM, inflation, Jeep, loan, monetary inflation, parasites, SAIC, Saudi Arabia, UAW, union, unions
Published by Mr. Contrarian
Like him, love him, or hate him, you have to commend Kevin O’Leary for being brave enough to have an opinion, ANY opinion. I tend to agree with his views on most items. I even like his sense of humour.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070419.wh-mycarporsche-0419/BNStory/specialGlobeAuto
As a car guy, I also admire him for being the few left in North America […]
. Nov 21, 2008
Filed under: Automotive, Kevin O'Leary, automatic transmission, clutch, efficiency, gasoline, Kevin O'Leary, manual transmission, Porsche, Prius, Tiptronic, torque
Published by Mr. Contrarian
The internet is amazing. Look at what we found online today! An article from the December 12, 2005 issue of BusinessWeek magazine. It discusses the at-the-time unbelievable scenario of a Chapter 11 filing from GM (GM). Well, here we are in late 2008 and that day has come. The article is timely for a re-run.
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_50/b3963114.htm
. Nov 20, 2008
Filed under: Automotive, bailout, bankruptcy, Chrysler, Ford, GM, GMAC, loan, loan guarantee, subsidy, the Big Three
Published by Mr. Contrarian
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/BUSINESS/11/18/mazda.ford.sale/index.html?eref=edition_business
So Ford has sold off its ownership of Jaguar earlier this year, after owning it since 1987. What a money pit–think of all the tens of Billions of dollars lost on that venture, the past two decades. Ford’s investments in Mazda and Volvo have been more successful, but with its cash reserves quickly dwindling, Ford […]
. Nov 18, 2008
Filed under: Automotive, bankruptcy, Chrysler, Ford, GM, GMAC, Jaguar, Mazda, the Big Three, Volvo
Published by Mr. Contrarian
The size of a company, as measured by its gross sales, gives it breathing room, for cash flow, cap-ex (capital expenditures), marketing, bonuses, and profits. Profits must arise from the sales of product and the revenue it generates. Profits, can’t be greater than one’s revenues, obviously.
Amway, being a $7B company (gross sales). Doling out approx. […]
. Nov 18, 2008
Filed under: Amway, Automotive, Amway, Amway Global, bankruptcy, GM, profitability, profits