Bill Vlasic’s starts his story of the decline and fall of the American auto industry in 2005. GM, Ford, and Chrysler were making profits, but the margins were razor thin. Health care costs were rendering the Big Three uncompetitive with their foreign competitors. And little did the auto makers know that an economic calamity awaited them just a few years in their future. I admire the way Bill Vlasic tells this complicated story by keeping his story-lines clean and uncluttered. Even with a large cast of characters, Vlasic keeps their personalities distinctive and memorable. If you want to learn how GM and Chrysler went bankrupt and how Ford managed to stay solvent, read Once Upon a Car. It’s not only one of the best business books of the year, it’s one of the very best books of the year. GRADE: A
Does he approve of the bailout? And how does he view their future?
Vlasic’s ONCE UPON A CAR is like a documentary, Patti. There’s some analysis at the end, but events are still unfolding. I was amazed at the UAW negotiations and the whole Cerberus take-over of Chrysler. Plenty of juicy details!
The decline really started in the 70s when they produced really crappy cars and people started buying imports cause they were better made. I remember one year where the gap between the front door and the jam was so great you could reach in with you finger and unlatch the door – and I kid you not here, I did it to help a woman who locked herself out of her company car. I could not believe what a piece of crap it was. If American car makers had been concerned with quality and giving a good product to their customers they would still be on top of the heap.
You’re right, Stan. When we bought a new 1980 Pontiac Phoenix, the rear doors wouldn’t open. You’d think they would have checked that before the car left the factory. That’s the last American-made car we ever bought.
Jamb.
It’s amazing how so many smart people in the car business made so many dumb decisions, Bob.
Stan is absolutely right. To tell this story, 2005 is way too late.
Other books like Comeback: The Fall & Rise of the American Automobile Industry by Paul Ingrassia & Joseph B. White and The End of Detroit: How the Big Three Lost Their Grip on the American Car Market by Micheline Maynard have told the story of the decline of the auto industry, Rick. ONCE UPON A CAR brings us up to date.