The Auto Industry : A Global Economic Powerhouse And Juggernaut Of Cultural Influence

The American automotive industry has been under a lot of pressure over recent years due to increased concern for the environment and increased global competition. An environmental scan on the American automotive industry shows that the global competition is a great cause for concern, new technology is providing an edge, emissions and laws regulating them are as tight as ever, and consumer opinion is reflecting concern for this.

Detroit, Michigan grew up around the automobile industry. At its peak, Detroit was the fifth-largest city in the United States, becoming the home to over 1.8 million people by 1950 (Davey, Monica 2013). The prolific population was due greatly to the success of the auto industry in the city. At that time, Detroit was flying high, its name coined “The Motor City” (americaslibrary.gov), and automobiles greatly impacted commercialization. From transporting goods to hastening production, to selling parts, to manufacturing and selling new automobiles, the auto industry completely transformed Detroit. Things seemed

In the hyper competitive world of today’s mega corporations controlled by the sway of the stock market, giant old industrial era companies rule over the automobile market in the United States as well as large parts of the global automobile market. Companies such as General Motors, Chrysler, and Ford were at the center of it until the economic crisis now known as the Great Recession of the late 2000s. The whole market was declining in sales with General Motors and Chrysler taking the biggest hits while Ford only suffered decline comparable to foreign automakers’, Honda and Toyota, levels due to restructuring in prior years. However, the tipping point was edging closer to bankruptcy with General Motors and Chrysler that ultimately

With the upcoming Presidential election, there is a very real possibility of big political challenges; as well as, major changes to international trade policies facing the American Automotive Companies. Political changes, locally and abroad, are having an effect on the automotive industry. Britain recently voted to exit the European Union; this event, which is being called Brexit, is having a ripple effect across the world. The full result of Brexit won’t be known for two years or more, but with the automotive industry having such a large presence in the U.K, an anticipated change is in full effect. In general, for the next two years, global automakers will need to pay attention to the market; be prepared for unanticipated changes; and ready for the possible need of contingency plans. This is especially crucial as negotiations take place between Britain and the EU. Ian

Several factors have affected how the American auto industry now positions itself on the world market, and big changes have been made to reflect this new direction. The introduction of new technologies in vehicles, the growing market for cars in new developing markets, the impact of the industry on the environment, legislative responses and demands, as well as the increased expectations from consumers, are some of the factors. More international cars are being designed, manufactured and bought by American consumers and exported to foreign markets today than those exclusively manufactured by American companies, redefining the American auto industry, while having a positive impact on its economy. International brands accounted for 45% of total sales in the U.S. in 2013 and have now risen to 59% of the market, and continue to grow. While the amount of American cars has decreased in the local U.S. market share to international ones, the increase of foreign car production on U.S. soil has had the effect of creating new jobs for Americans both in the auto industry as well as in related new industries. The industry has seen huge growth numbers in the last few years with more growth expected.

The auto industry has been around long before I was born. Automobiles have become a necessity in American culture. “With the invention of the automobile and the mass production techniques of Henry Ford, which made the machine affordable, the American economy has been transformed by this key element in its prosperity.” (Davis, 2014) Being able to transport quickly from one destination to another is a great convenience. Almost every working family living in the United States owns at least one vehicle.

The last several years were also tumultuous for the U.S. auto industry. After dominating the market for decades, American automakers had grown complacent about product development. At the same time, rising gas prices and uncertainty about the economy caused consumer preferences to shift from SUVs to more fuel efficient vehicles. Foreign competitors entered the U.S. market offering more reliable, higher quality and more fuel efficient vehicles at a lower price and began to steal market share away from American automakers. In order to remain competitive, U.S. automakers need to focus on increasing production efficiencies and developing innovative product offerings. Firm Analysis

Ever since the 2008 recession US automobile companies have been on a steady downhill slide, but actually you can trace this downward trend even further back than 2008. US car companies have been feeling the heat since as early as the late 1980s when Japanese car companies laid claim to American manufacturing plants . Despite a shot in the arm in sales over the past five years, American firms are still on the decline. This case analysis aims to diagnosis the problem, provide analysis of the problem, and propose a viable solution to the problem from the perspective of the US automobile market share leader, General Motors.

The invention of the automobile became a convenience, but emissions in the city and the demand for the fuel efficient cars have left an uncertain future for the auto industry.

Generation Y is now the prime target for the auto industry, they are also the largest potential consumer market, and the auto industry has to work on getting this new generation interested in their products. To achieve this goal, it is important that the industry acknowledge that the consumer patterns are not the same. A global consciousness has developed in

This essay will analyze the current environmental challenges faced by the auto industry in the

The financial crisis starting in 2008 and the following recession hit hard the US auto sector. Traditional car makers had to realise that substantial changes were needed in order to maintain their strong position in the

People depend on their cars for everyday life. They need it to go to work, school, and events. What if one day the automotive industry crashes? People across this country rely on this industry to provide them the safest and most affordable cars. But just recently the car companies in Detroit almost came to an end. Just in "Ohio, about one out every eight jobs has ties with the carmakers" (Cohn, 2012). If these industries did actually come to an end then it would have caused so many people to lose jobs in the Metro Detroit area as well as surrounding areas. However, The Big Three Companies such as General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler, almost did crash do to their

A second point of consideration relating to the intensity of rivalry within the industry was the level of industry demand. “Demand declines when customers are leaving the marketplace or each customer is buying less” (Hill &Jones, 2012, p. 62). This was the case in 2009 in many developed nations due to the recession, which was marked by job loss, credit problems, and high gas prices that increased the demand for fuel-efficient vehicles or left consumers unable to purchase vehicles altogether. At the same time, growth was expanding in China and some other developing nations, which opened the doors for automobile companies in these countries to expand at home and

The characteristics of the global motor vehicle industry are a boom in certain places and a bust in others all due to economic conditions in different nations. Four years after tow of Detroit Michigan’s big three went into bankruptcy American car makers are going “full throttle” with sales in August hitting an annual rate that if substantiated can take them back over 16 million and that is a rate that was last hit before the economic crisis and 80% higher than 2009 when GM and Chrysler went into bankruptcy. The opposite is happening in Europe being in its sixth year slump now and with a weak economy, high petroleum prices and an aging