very interesting video

[Hairtrigger]

I would rather see American companies invest in Amererica.
http://info.detnews.com/video/index.cfm?id=1189

[D Crockett]

and that is where American jobs go D Crockett

[DalesCarpentry]

Boy that sucks!!!!!!!!! I thought if you bought a Ford it rooled off the line in Detroit. Dale

[rockbilly]

Not only Ford, but Chrysler and GM have numerous overseas plants.  This was started many years ago to accommodate the overseas market.  The cars manufactured in these plants normally never come to the USA, but remain where they were made or shipped to a close market in that area.  There are, however, many parts and accessories built or manufactured overseas for domestic automobiles. They are shipped and installed by American workers at American plants.

In my opinion, labor unions are largely responsible for the work being farmed out to a foreign company, or foreign plant.  When union workers scream and holler for more money prices for the produce go up, sales go down because nonunion workers can no longer afford to buy the product.

Looking back, I make much more today than I did 50 years ago, but even in those days, and with my humble income, I could afford to buy a new vehicle every couple of years, that was before the union demanded that incompetent workers be promoted and paid based on seniority. I think many of those worker's can see that they shot themselves in the foot, no job and no pension today, and they run the business out of the country.  

[rockbilly]

TM7, a great thing about America is the fact that we can work for anyone we choose.

I don't know if the unions have penetrated Toyota plants yet, but when the first plant was scheduled to built in America union officials approached Toyota and demanded a seat on the board.  Toyota management responded by telling them when they have an equal amount on money invested in the company, then, and only then,  would a union official be allowed on the board.  In the beginning, no Toyota plants allowed any union influence or control over placement or advancement of workers.  

I think unions served a useful purpose at one time, and still do for improving safety and work conditions. I agree that unions are, in part, responsible for the development of a middle class in America, but the take over by folks like Jimmy Hoffa changed the direction and purpose of unions placing demands on the companies that eventually got to our pocketbooks and lead to the jobs being shipped overseas.

Bottom line.  It is the "All American Dollar" that we all strive to accumulate that has caused the overseas exodus. Investors demanding a higher return on their investment, and the public refusing to pay for the increases.....so we move overseas where the product can be built cheaper, and the firm shows a greater profit.

[DalesCarpentry]

TM7, a great thing about America is the fact that we can work for anyone we choose.

I don't know if the unions have penetrated Toyota plants yet, but when the first plant was scheduled to built in America union officials approached Toyota and demanded a seat on the board.  Toyota management responded by telling them when they have an equal amount on money invested in the company, then, and only then,  would a union official be allowed on the board.  In the beginning, no Toyota plants allowed any union influence or control over placement or advancement of workers.  

I think unions served a useful purpose at one time, and still do for improving safety and work conditions. I agree that unions are, in part, responsible for the development of a middle class in America, but the take over by folks like Jimmy Hoffa changed the direction and purpose of unions placing demands on the companies that eventually got to our pocketbooks and lead to the jobs being shipped overseas.

Bottom line.  It is the "All American Dollar" that we all strive to accumulate that has caused the overseas exodus. Investors demanding a higher return on their investment, and the public refusing to pay for the increases.....so we move overseas where the product can be built cheaper, and the firm shows a greater profit.

I think you explained that very well. Dale

[SharonAnne]

Dale, no cars are made in Detroit. none.

[ironglow]

  Face it guys; some of the most American cars (by content) are called Toyota & Honda..

[DalesCarpentry]

I bought a new Chevy Nova back in the mid 80'S. On the engine it said Toyota. It was a copy of a Toyota Celica. I have to say I put close to 200,000 miles on it without a problem. The only thing I did back  then to a car was change the brakes, tires, every now and then change the oil. Hell the way I take care of things these days I bet I could got a half a million miles out of it. That car never gave me a lick of trouble as much as I abused it. Dale

[ironglow]

 I bought a new Dodge Omni in 1983..It had a Peugeot engine. It was a pretty good car, perhaps better than if it had the regular Dodge engine.
  Highest gas mileage I ever achieved in a car, better than the new Yaris I have.

[beemanbeme]

Yes, and I can remember when you bought a new car and got a LIMITED warranty of 12 months or 12,000 miles. Engine and tranny only.  And when hunks started falling off, the salesmen and service mgr would laugh and tell you "you must have gotten a friday afternoon car or a monday morning car".
 Yup, the unions did it to themselves.  Once they got past safety and health, which was a loooong time ago, and created a class of "workers" that come to work with an attitude of "what is the least I can do and stay on the payroll"; once they started demanding job performances be based on the most trifling POS on the work force;  once one of the main topics in the break room became how much a fellow had screwed the company and how little he had done,  it was the beginning of the end. 
And all one has to do is look at the emerging middle class around the Pacific Rim to know that those dupes that are whining about slave labour and sweat shops are talking through their azz. It's obvious they don't understand the concept of doing a days work for a days pay.
FWIW, I've been buying Toyoto trucks since 1982. My total maintainance package is change oil and filters every 5000 miles.  New brakes and tires when needed.  That 's it. I've gotten 300,000+  miles from each of them.  You don't wear them out, you just get sick of driving them. If it hadn't been for the Japs, we'd still be drivng detroit iron with no warranty and getting laughed at by the "service" dept.