Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2000 11:01:42 -0500

["Storhok, Eric (E.M.)" <estorhok@domain.elided>]

Luca writes:
"The common view EUROPE has about driving a car in USA is terrible:
we imagine YOU as driving BORING touring cages, with automatic gearbox,
while drinking a cocacola and eating a full of greasy shits hotdog.
We don't see the "sporty instinct" we all have over here.
We don't see the amazing roads, full of twisties we have here.
We just imagine you driving on a 10 lanes boring STRAIGHT endless highway,
full of coppers catching you at the 1st rev of engine."

And this is exactly my point.  To sell enough cars in the states to make a
profit, you can't just sell to enthusiasts.  There are just not enough of
them (how many of you bought a new Alfa since '85?  and why didn't you- how
do you expect them to sell enough cars if even Alfa people don't buy them).
BMW HAS figured out how to reach the general public.  So has Mercedes.
People complain about the lack of cupholders in a 325, and what does BWM do?
Put more in.  What would Alfa do?  Say "oh, you should not be drinking in
our cars."  So they just cut a HUGE chunk off of potential customers.  Which
means that they won't sell enough so the few of us who WOULD buy one, could.

Its all about money.  If you don't sell, you don't make any.  If Fiat could
have figured this out, then they could have ridden this recent world
recession out on American sales, which has been driving the world economy
the last few years.  Instead, they have been trying to sell cars in 2nd and
3rd economies which have been floundering.  Duh, you can't make money in a
bad market.  So now they need a partner.  No surprise there.

Yes, we make crap here at ford.  But we make LOTS of money doing it.  Which
could fund cool cars (too bad it doesn't- just more damn trucks...).

Opinionated,

Eric Storhok
Core Emissions and Fuel Economy Team
Advanced Powertrain Engineering
(313)33x75011
MD 35, FPC-B
Ford Motor Company

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