So proud of the big three

[Trish Crocker]

I'm not going to get into a political discussion..I just want to say that Steve and I just got back from the North American International Show in downtown Detroit and our American car builders shined!! I realize that many of our cars are made in other countries and that many 'foreign' cars are made here, but when you live in the Detroit area your entire life and have parents and grandparents that worked on the lines, the condition of the big three is important. I was so proud of our companies and the come back that they have made. The Chevrolet concept car, the Miray, was amazing. We went to the auto show a couple of years ago and there was a major change in the excitement this year. The economy of this area is so dependent upon the auto makers, it's great to see this happening.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Trish, Sandy and I used to drive up to Detroit for the car show every year for quite a number of years. We always enjoyed the heck out of it. But several years back, when things first started 'slipping', the car manufacturers started cutting back on their presence at the show.......and we stopped going.

Now, with what you're stating and with what I've been reading about how this year's event has changed so much in comparison with past years.......I kinda wish we'd have gone! Maybe next year!!

Thanks for your insights -

Bill :)

[collie1228]

They just announced that GM is again the biggest car manufacturer in the world. That's great news for the USA (especially since GM has only paid back the taxpayers half of the bailout funds). While I hate bailouts by the government, I appreciate that GM got rid of many of the old school GM executives and started paying attention to business. And Ford's profits were double digits in 2011. Good news all around.

[tippyclubb]

Trish I agree its very nice to know Detroit is making a come back. My husbands engineering job is automotive related and they are swamped with work this last year. In 2010 he was laid off for six months. Our son also works in the automotive field and he was laid off too, but recently was hired back. I was getting nervous thinking that kid may have to sell his home and move back in with us. Whew....

Hopefully the come back will produce even more jobs in our area and we can sell our homes. By the way any action on yours?

[eweissenbach]

Good post Trish. American manufacturers, particularly in the automobile sector, have begun to figure it out. People will buy American, if the quality is at least equal to that of foreign goods. Back in the 70s and 80s the quality of American goods was clearly inferior in most cases, especially in the auto industry. Back then I had a great many friends and acquaintences who worked in the auto industry in the Kansas City area. I talked to one of them who worked for Ford and he said he worked in the paint department. He said it took 90 people to run the line and they had 115 people on the department payroll. He said that on his shift there was virtually NEVER a day that his department did not have to borrow people from elsewhere in order to have the minimum to run the line. That was the level of absenteeism in those days and was reflected in the defective and poor quality of the products they put out. That is why the Japanese and Koreans got their foot in the door, as they were putting out quality vehicles at a reasonable price. I am proud that the American worker and the American companies have finally realized that they can compete and even dominate if they work together to give the people a product that is good quality at a fair price.

[Mikiem]

Very good news indeed. I worked in an auto factory for 32 years in the western New York area and to see G.M. back on top makes me very happy.

[2BNTV]

Good post Trish. I was happy to hear that GM is back to being number 1.

I hope this trend continues.