Big Three (Automakers)
General Motors and Ford Motor Company Fiat Automobiles Chrysler United States are often called the Big Three, being the largest automakers in the United States and Canada they were for a time the largest in the world and two of them are still a mainstay in the top three big five are distinguished not only by their size and geography, but also by their business model All three have their headquarters in the Detroit area 4 most of their activities are unionized with the United Auto workers and Canadian Auto workers.
Ford occupied the automaker's position in second place for the past 56 years, being relegated to third in sales in North America, having been overtaken by Toyota in 2007 This year, Toyota produced more vehicles than GM, although GM still outsold Toyota this year, giving GM 77 consecutive calendar years higher sales for the first quarter of 2008, however, Toyota overtook GM in sales and 5 June on the north American market, automakers Detroit has held the top three spots, although their market share is down 7 Honda passed Chrysler to fourth place in 2008, sales in the United States September 8 Since then, due to the Toyota controversy surrounding their recent reminder of unintended acceleration, Toyota has fallen to fourth place in sales, with Honda back to fifth, allowing the Detroit Three inches ur get their Big Three title.
The work of the Union may result in higher labor costs than other multinational automakers, including those with plants in North America 10 The Harbor Report 2005 estimated that Toyota in advance labor productivity amounted to a cost advantage of US 350 US 500 per vehicle on US 11 manufacturers UAW accepted a salary at two levels in the last 2007 negotiations, the CAW has so far 12 Delphi refused a subsidiary of GM in 1999, filed a chapter 11 bankruptcy after the UAW refused to reduce their salaries and GM should be responsible for a deficit of 7 billion 13 14 15.
To improve profits, Detroit automakers have made agreements with unions to reduce wages while making pension and health care commitments GM, for example, at one point picked up the total cost of insurance premiums disease financing of its employees, their survivors and GM retirees, such as the United States did not have a universal health care system 16 with most of these chronic underfunding plans in the 1990s, companies tried to provide retirement programs for older workers, and agreements with the UAW to transfer pension obligations to an independent trust body 17 in 2009, the CBC reported that non-union Japanese manufacturers, with their American young workforce and fewer retirees continue to enjoy a cost advantage over the Big Three 11.
Despite the history of their brand, long race cars were abandoned or relegated to the sale of the fleet, 18 19 20 as the Big Three turned aside resources for medium and small size cars to lead the SUV Since Craze late 1990s, more than half of their earnings come from sport utility vehicles so they could not break often even on compact cars unless the buyer chose options 21 Ron Harbor, releasing the Oliver Wyman Harbor report 2008, said that many small econoboxes of the past acted as loss leaders, but were designed to bring customers to the brand in the hope that they remain faithful and move on to more profitable models the report estimates that an automaker needed to sell ten small cars to make the same profit as a great vehicle, and they had to produce small and mo sized cars yenne profitably to succeed, something the Detroit Three struggled to make 22.
SUV sales peaked in 1999 but have not returned to that level since, because of the high gas prices The big three have suffered quality and lower initial perceived reliability compared to their Japanese counterparts, which has been difficult to overcome, they have been slow to bring new vehicles to market, while Japanese are also considered the leader in the production of small fuel-efficient cars 11.
The decline in sales and market share have led to the Big Three plants operating below GM capacity plants were 85 in November 2005, well below the plants of its Asian competitors, which led to reductions production, plant closures and layoffs They were relying heavily on considerable incentives and subsidized leases to sell vehicles that was crucial to keep plants running, which led an important part of the economy of Michigan 23 these promotional strategies, including rebates, employee pricing and 0 financing, have boosted sales, but also cut most important benefits of such promotions drain cash reserves in short carmaker term while in the long term, the company suffers the stigma of selling vehicles due to low prices instead of constructeu Car rs technical merit have since tried to scale back on incentives and raise prices, while production of cutting the subprime crisis and high oil prices in 2008 due to the popularity plummeting best- selling trucks and SUVs, forcing automakers perhaps continue offering heavy incentives to help clear excess stock on November 24.
The Big Three continued to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to avoid a requirement for emissions from the tailpipe In response, Governor Schwarzenegger told the Big Three get off their butt 25.
In 2008, high oil prices and a US economy in decline because of the crisis of the three major sub-prime are rethinking their strategy, idling or converting light truck plants to make small cars 10 26 27 28 due to the residual value decline of their vehicles, Chrysler has stopped offering leases on its vehicles 29.
In 2009, General Motors and Chrysler filed and emerged from Chapter 11 reorganization in the US General Motors of Canada has not filed bankruptcy United States and the Government of Canada's control are presented temporarily The June 10 2009, Chrysler Group LLC emerged from a chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization and was sold to the Italian automaker Fiat 30 31 3 June 2011, Fiat bought the remaining US Treasury in Chrysler for $ 500 million more ownership of the automaker to 53 32 21 January 2014, Fiat bought the remaining stake in Chrysler group that it does not already own retirement medical benefits to employees United Auto workers trust 33.
In April 2012, GM and Ford continued to lose market share as sales fell 8 3 years 2 to 5 on the year respectively 34 Because of the corporate structure of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles which owns or controls more by US investors, some media now list Detroit to have a Big Two GM and Ford, as opposed to a Big Three 35 some media sources are now including Tesla in the Big Three, because it is the third US-owned automaker with evaluation 34 16B, much higher than the FCA 9 05B 36 37.
Japanese automakers Toyota Nissan and Honda among many others, have long been considered the leaders in producing small fuel efficient cars 11 Their vehicles were brought to the forefront because of the 1973 oil crisis which has had a major impact on the automotive industry for example, the Honda Civic was considered superior to its US competitors like Chevrolet Vega and Ford Pinto Civic is the best selling car in Canada for 12 years in a row 11 .
In addition, the Nissan 240Z was introduced at a relatively low price compared to other foreign sports cars of the era Jaguar BMW Porsche etc., while providing performance, reliability and good looks This enlarges the image of Japanese automakers beyond their econobox success, as well as being credited as the catalyst for the import performance parts industry.
Before Honda Acura unveiled in 1986, the Japanese auto exports were primarily economical in design and especially for low-cost consumer Three major Japanese created their luxury brand to challenge the established brands cue from Honda, Toyota launched the name Lexus with the LS 400 that debuted in 38000 in the United States in some markets as a price against average size six-cylinder models Mercedes-Benz and BMW, 38 and was evaluated by Car and Driver magazine as the best both W126 Mercedes-Benz 63000 and 55000 BMW E32 in terms of driving, handling and performance 39 It was generally regarded as a major shock for European brands; BMW and sales figures in the US Mercedes-Benz dropped 29 and 19, respectively, with the president, then-BMW Eberhard von Kuenheim accusing Lexus of dumping on this 39 Infiniti market Nissan has become a player in the market luxury thanks largely to its popular Q45 the vehicle includes a first class at 278 hp 207 kilowatts V8 engine, four-wheel steering the first active suspension system offered on a motor vehicle, and many appointments of interior luxury made this competitive with German imports like Audi BMW and Mercedes-Benz at the time of the release of Infiniti exceeded Cadillac and Lincoln in dominating the luxury segment of the US market in 1990, four years after the beginning of the legend and Integra Acura introduced the NSX a midship V6 powered, rear-wheel drive car NSX sports, an acronym for New sports eXperimental, was introduced as the first car japo nese to rival Ferrari and Porsche This vehicle served halo car for the brand Acura NSX was the first production car all aluminum, and also has been marketed and considered by some as the everyday supercar in part thanks to its ease of use, quality and reliability, traits that were unknown in the segment supercar world at the time 40.
The success of Japanese automakers contributed to their US counterparts to fall into a recession in late trade unions of the 1970s and lobbyists in North America and Europe to pressure their government to limit imports In 1981, Japan agreed restrictions on voluntary export to preempt protectionism measures that the United States may be taken, where either tariffs or import quotas as a result, Japanese companies have responded by investing heavily in production facilities in the United States because they are not subject to the NVA Unlike the factories of domestic automakers, Japanese factories are not unionized, except for NUMMI, they have expenses lower wages and do not face the risks of strikes VER 41 was lifted in 1994 with the agreement of all members of the General agreement on Tariffs and Trade GATT 42 ESTABLISHING production facilities in the United States was also an important step in improving public relations and philanthropy, advocacy efforts, and 43 Europe sharing technology still largely maintained its protectionist policies against Japanese cars, although they vary considerably 39.
Toyota has always been by far the largest automaker in Japan and has recently surpassed perennial world leader in GM production and sales in early 2008 as the most aggressive of Japanese firms when it came to the expansion in light trucks and luxury vehicles, this has proved largely successful their premium brand Lexus has become the top-selling luxury brand in 2000, despite being only started in 1989 worldwide therefore the price of Toyota's shares traded at a premium much higher than other automakers 44 Nissan has resumed its position on second place, financial difficulties late 1990s has lost his place at Honda before Nissan is the second automaker Japan and ranks sixth in the world, behind Toyota, GM, Volkswagen, Ford and Hyundai Suzuki, Mazda and Mitsubishi are in a distant fourth, fifth me and sixth place against the Big Three 45 Japanese.
Toyota, Honda and Nissan are all in BusinessWeek magazine's Top 100 Brands by dollar value, according to consulting leader ranking brand Interbrand Toyota brand was valued at 22 67 billion, ranking it ninth among all the names of global brands - automotive or non-automotive, surpassing that of Mercedes-Benz 46 47 2010 end of annual production figures of the international Organization of motor Vehicle manufacturers shows that Toyota holds the top spot number 1, number 6 Nissan Honda and No. 7. 45
The German trio Volkswagen Mercedes-Benz and BMW are often called Big Three Germany, 48 although the actual major automakers are the Volkswagen Group producer Volkswagen, Daimler AG manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
Other major German manufacturers are Opel and Ford-Werke, but are not considered part of this group, although they are among the top selling brands in Europe - they are both American owned Opel is a subsidiary General Motors while Ford Werke is Owned fledged subsidiary of Ford Motor Company, and are largely based in Germany and carry out much of their research and development in the country.
Volkswagen Group has long been the largest automaker in 2007 in Europe, he beat Ford ranked third in the world after General Motors and Toyota is also the parent group of Porsche Audi SEAT Škoda Bugatti Lamborghini and Bentley.
Daimler AG holds substantial interests in other automakers including Mitsubishi Fuso.
BMW also produces Mini brand vehicles, and was the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars since 1998.
BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi are about 86 of the intermediate market size luxury 48.
Big Three (Automakers), automobile manufacturers, Fiat bought remaining.