"Chrysler dealers confirmed to the company at a recent meeting at its headquarters, that they have many willing buyers for Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles but are unable to close the deals, due to lack of financing," the carmaker said in an announcement. "The dealers have stated that they have lost an estimated 20% to 25% of their volume because of this credit situation."Remember, just over two months ago, the President assured us that everything was fine, and the recession was just all in our heads. Chrysler's all but done, as is GM. An entire American industry is now on the brink and the government has pledged trillions and trillions of dollars to fix the problem over the last nine weeks or so. Trillions.Auto sales have been hit hard by tight credit and the struggling economy. Overall auto sales in the United States were down 37% last month compared with November 2007. Chrysler's situation was especially bad. Its sales dropped 47%.
Chrysler's financing arm, Chrysler Financial, has tightened lending terms for buyers and earlier this year, it announced it would no longer offer leases.
It will not be the last industry facing extinction. America a few years from now is going to be a very different place, like the difference between 1928 and 1932. We're going to have to reinvent our entire economy from scratch. Many of the old industries and jobs they represent will vanish for good over the next few years.
Our consumer consumption economy is dying before our eyes. What will replace it? That is Obama's true test...and Bush's true legacy of disaster.
I find myself torn as to what to think about the auto industry. I'm not completely done pondering the matter, but I definitely lean towards survival of the fittest and seeing that they brought this on themselves in many ways. Bailing out might help (might!), but so would better practices and less waste.
ReplyDeleteLet us hope that Obama can pull us out of it. Things are so bad that perhaps the smartest and the brightest won't be able to turn it around and bring us back to the good old days. What will be really annoying are the ones who will claim it to be Obama's failure, instead of recognizing that he inherited it from Dubya. I'm one bitter Republican away from going on a mass idiot beating spree.
I'm shocked you have not started a countdown for the day he takes over, by the way. Or have I just missed it?
Bon The Geek
No countdown hon.
ReplyDeleteBut January 20 can't get here fast enough.
And as usual, you're right. Blame will be placed on Obama's head, fair or not.