Re: An interesting discussion on the Hemmings blog...

Posted by ScottG On 2013/7/12 11:01:55

The wreckage of every single American independent automaker from Ajax to Willys doesn't provide sufficient evidence that American independents weren't going to survive? Sure, Nash made it into the early 80's (albeit moribund by then) but it was the very last of hundreds that had failed in decades prior.

And, while I am no economist, I'll go out on a limb and say that, among other things, consistently marketing extraordinarily crappy products nearly killed Chrysler in the 1980's; Daimler bleeding Chrysler dry and dumping the corpse on Cerberus Financial nearly killed it in 2008. Similarly, thirty-five years of garbage produced by the General (in addition to unsupportable legacy costs) drove GM into the ditch in 2008. So, no, size doesn't protect you from failure but it sure helps keep you in the game.

I am curious to see how Tesla fares as it seems to be operating in the mode of some of our beloved independents. If the all-electric market ever evolves beyond boutique status, I'd love to see the company thrive although I'd guess it, too, would be swallowed-up or crushed by larger firms.

Honestly, examining the fate of Peerless would be much more fun as it would include a discussion about beer...