The article specifically mentions Japan in the 70s and 80s.
Yes, Ford is still around, greatly changed.
Other household names from then are not.
The US motor vehicle industry largely failed to recognize the ways Japanese cars and car makers were superior to American-made.
Even today, 50 years later,
Japanese models dominate every category except full-sized pickup trucks.
Do very small cheap pickups gain US presence? In New Zealand we have the Kei truck : eg Suzuki Carry 4WD 660cc is about USD9000. BYD are selling 1500cc pickups (just petrol not electric) here that I'm guessing are relatively cheap.
cratermoon · 3h ago
They did for a little while.
The early Toyota Tacoma and Datsuns, but changes in the laws all but eliminated them from the US market.
The Kei is unavailable in the US because it doesn't come anywhere near meeting NHTSA safety regulations.
kwertyoowiyop · 5h ago
When will the first joint venture Chinese-American car factory open in the US? I keep expecting something involving Ford, given Farley’s comments.
bell-cot · 6h ago
How to loudly & repeatedly message your underlings with "you are not taking our competition anywhere near seriously enough":
> Last year, Ford CEO Jim Farley commuted [for 6 months in a] Xiaomi SU7. The Chinese-made electric sedan is one of the world’s most impressive cars [...] “It’s fantastic,” Farley said about the Xiaomi SU7 on a podcast last fall. “I don’t want to give it up.”
Most likely due to 25% tariff protection introduced 1964: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tax
Do very small cheap pickups gain US presence? In New Zealand we have the Kei truck : eg Suzuki Carry 4WD 660cc is about USD9000. BYD are selling 1500cc pickups (just petrol not electric) here that I'm guessing are relatively cheap.
> Last year, Ford CEO Jim Farley commuted [for 6 months in a] Xiaomi SU7. The Chinese-made electric sedan is one of the world’s most impressive cars [...] “It’s fantastic,” Farley said about the Xiaomi SU7 on a podcast last fall. “I don’t want to give it up.”