Next brand to go bankrupt - General Motors, Volkswagen, Jaguar or Nissan?

[Syndrome]

I've been following this industry for more than four decades and spent half of that time working in the industry. The amount of turmoil at the moment is unprecedented. So many legacy brands are in trouble because of poor product planning or self caused harm due to sheer stupidity.

"Interesting" times ahead.

[XR Martin]

Honda.

They're rebadging Chevrolets in the US

[prydey]

GM are in massive trouble in China yet the American company has just backed a bid to join F1 from 2026. The joining fee alone is in the millions.

[jpd80]

The Chinese have been putting the broom through western and Asian brands in their market,
the boom days of easy sales and profits from Chinese domestic sales ar all but over and any brands
that don’t have a strong standing in North America and Europe are gonna be toast.

[Cav]

Manufacturing cars to obtain a govmint subsidy rather than what customers want.

Chinese cars to be the most popular in Australia in 5 years.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Cav

Manufacturing cars to obtain a govmint subsidy rather than what customers want.

Chinese cars to be the most popular in Australia in 5 years.

What do customers want?

No one is forced to buy anything. Therefore sales data would suggest the product with the highest sales is what customers want.

Of course, another product may become more desirable. Who can predict what humans actually want?

Most manufacturers of consumer products will aim for the 80th percentile.

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by Cav

Manufacturing cars to obtain a govmint subsidy rather than what customers want.

Exactly! Watch these companies beg for governments to bail them out of their financial mess and also seek governments to legislate non-EVs out of existence!

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Cav

Manufacturing cars to obtain a govmint subsidy rather than what customers want.

Chinese cars to be the most popular in Australia in 5 years.

Chinese cars are the most heavily subsidised of them all.

[EBSXR6]

GM went bust during the GFC.

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by EBSXR6

GM went bust during the GFC.

Yes they did. Technically GM died in 2009. What we have today is GM 2.0

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motors...dation_Company

[lamborghinifan]

This thread should be poll, to look back on…

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Yes they did. Technically GM died in 2009. What we have today is GM 2.0

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motors...dation_Company

Ironically, before GM filed for bankruptcy, it’s senior executives paid Ford a visit
and offered them a deal/alliance. GM would take hold of Ford’s $30 billion in cash
and basically run both companies through the tough times…..

Bill Ford politely said no thanks.

[Ford17]

Originally Posted by EBSXR6

GM went bust during the GFC.

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Yes they did. Technically GM died in 2009. What we have today is GM 2.0

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motors...dation_Company

Even if they end up on the brink again, they will still meddle in various motor racing series to ensure they are "winning".

[Franco Cozzo]

I reckon GM - absolute clown show, got in bed with charlatan 'Nikoka Motors' and also pulled out of RHD markets globally and focusing back on the American market.

They're not long for this world.

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

I reckon GM - absolute clown show, got in bed with charlatan 'Nikoka Motors' and also pulled out of RHD markets globally and focusing back on the American market.They're not long for this world.

DEI hire................

[b0son]

Originally Posted by XR Martin

Honda.

They're rebadging Chevrolets in the US

And outselling them!

[T3rminator]

I reckon a large number of Chinese brands will die out in the next 5-10 years. Will they be "next"? Maybe not, but won't be long after. There are too many of them. The industry will consolidate, and the handful that survive will become juggernauts.

[Rastas]

Originally Posted by T3rminator

I reckon a large number of Chinese brands will die out in the next 5-10 years. Will they be "next"? Maybe not, but won't be long after. There are too many of them. The industry will consolidate, and the handful that survive will become juggernauts.

Yes there is currently over 100 diff car manufacturers in China so expect plenty to not make it , but as you say - those that survive will dominate even if they just concentrate on their home market (by far the worlds largest new car market).

[EBSXR6]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

I reckon GM - absolute clown show, got in bed with charlatan 'Nikoka Motors' and also pulled out of RHD markets globally and focusing back on the American market.

They're not long for this world.

The Govt will bail em out again.

[uranium_death]

GM.
Nissan will also fold in time. They've been under the pump many, many times and they don't stand out anywhere. JATCO CVTs have a rap as well. There are better Japanese brands out there.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by uranium_death

GM.
Nissan will also fold in time. They've been under the pump many, many times and they don't stand out anywhere. JATCO CVTs have a rap as well. There are better Japanese brands out there.

Pity..I was kind liking the new Patrol more and more...

[EBSXR6]

Nissan is closing stand alone Infiniti Dealers in the USA.
https://www.news.com.au/technology/m...65bdaedd5591f2

[uranium_death]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

Pity..I was kind liking the new Patrol more and more...

It looks okay etc., but off-roaders are seemingly sticking to their Y60s and Y61s. Not offering diesel will do that.
I have never seen a Y62 offroad, ever. I'll allow for one perhaps. The Y62 released nearly 15 years ago and I simply haven't seen the numbers on the road. They're an expensive Toorak Tractor, but there's clearly other models people prefer.

Nissan's sales are going relatively well with the new model of Patrol, but will it sustain? Once it ages, those numbers will most likely drop.

IMO their key model should be the X-Trail as this would be the market segment where they'd want volume of sales.
The RAV-4, Outlander and Sportage. When you consider the RAV-4 has more than twice the sales of the 2nd place Outlander in the segment, you realise sales drop away pretty quickly in the segment. The X-Trail is not flying. Drivetrain issues coupled with that bloody Jatco CVT don't help.

I still contend that many people buy Toyotas because of their perceived reliability. Nissan will never compete on that front. They have to provide something special to compete. They don't. Their vehicles are largely ho-hum, and they cannot save a company only through the Patrol - at least not on the current numbers.

The Navara also doesn't have market appeal. It finished 9th in the segment in 2023. It's a good looking vehicle and is an established nameplate, but was still beaten by GWM and LDV, with the 5th placed Triton selling twice as many. The Navara sold <15% of the Ranger's numbers.

They need a vehicle that appeals to the critical mass, and they simply haven't had that for a long while now. They fall into the 'mediocre' category where they aren't ahead of the curve really anywhere. They're excelling at nothing - or at least that's the brand perception.

The uncertainty around their future doesn't foster confidence in anybody looking to purchase. You want to be assured that your car will be supported throughout its lifespan. When the brand has headlines citing financial hardship, people may elect to steer clear.

Unless they strike oil, they're destined to fail. Nissan's struggle is not new. Like Fitzroy Football Club in 1996, it'll be a slow bleed before death.

[Adamz Ghia]

Nissan will suffer with the new Navara too. The new Triton is an improvement on the old one, but not a patch on Ranger. Yet they are still charging near Ranger dollars. How does this happen? Triton had 4 years of development after Ranger was released, yet it still feels half a generation behind. Car companies would benchmark the competition, who drove the new model and said yep, this is the best we have?

[b0son]

Originally Posted by Adamz Ghia

Nissan will suffer with the new Navara too. The new Triton is an improvement on the old one, but not a patch on Ranger. Yet they are still charging near Ranger dollars. How does this happen?

They probably figure if Toyota can, why not them.

[Sprintey]

Trump will go hard with tariffs amid lots of screeching and noise in all directions. China has already shifted it's monetary policy to 'moderately loose' in anticipation of this (read that as 'increasing the enormous subsidy/support).
The world will separate into trade blocs.
Automakers will become national 'too big to fail' projects, and sales will largely withdraw to local regions, eg US in US, Europe in Europe.
Australia being unable to make a car, will eventually have to choose between its main security relationship and its main trade relationship and it won't be pretty when that choice is made. Until then, we kick the can and masquerade as a 1st world country.