^^The thing is, if you already have good cars and has prices go up, or people have less $$ to spend on trucks, you can fall back on your car sales IF you have good product. Like Toyota did. They idled their truck plant for a month, and their cars continued to sell. In GMs case...if you don't have excellent small cars, and truck sales tank...what happens? You're in a bad spot!
My other issue with GM and their focus on trucks....well because of their lack of a good small car, they completely neglect the first time car buyer. Toyota and Honda seem to have figured this one out. Set the hook in the customers mouth in a small car..and then when they have the disposable income to do so, reel 'em in and put them into an expensive car/truck. Often first time car buyers are looking for as reliable and quality as they can afford. Unfortunately, this leads them to imports more often than not.
Now Ontario/Michigan is a very unique market where many first time buyers WILL buy domestic regardless. But the rest of the country? The don't give a flying you-know-what about buying domestic (since their uncles, fathers, moms etc. aren't employed by the Big 2, no spin off jobs, etc..). They want the best car the fewest dollars can get them. People in this area think the rest of the United States cares about the domestic auto industry. They don't come anywhere near taking it to heart like we do here in Ontario and Michigan. Unless you've seen it first hand (like I have working in the industry) it's hard to grasp. The vast majority of people don't care who makes their car, or where it comes from. They want the best value...period. You could see a bit of this un-caring attitude during the bailout...many in the US were just saying "let them die". Catastrophic for this area..but no biggie for the rest of the US. FWIW, they sell more cars in California alone than ALL of Canada.
