Quote:
Originally Posted by pj67coll
They built bigger less efficient vehicles because that's what the people wanted. The problems only started for them when the combo of the recession plus the apparent inability of folks to pay about 4 bucks per gallon hit.
- Peter.
|
Not true. They avoided Carter Administration fuel economy rules by building SUVs on truck platforms and qualifying them as trucks. Trucks were covered by the new standards. Like AdvisorGuy said, they marketed their new creations to perfection. They pitched their ruggedness combined with minivan scorn combined with extra seating to Americans, and they bought it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by aklim
I don't think their marketing department is that good. If it was, why is the F150 having it's sales eroded by the Japanese stuff like the Tundra? Didn't F150s use to be king of the road in their class just like the big 3 used to be? Slowly but surely the Jap stuff is edging in. The way you make it out to be, their marketing department can sell us a Yugo at S-class prices. If what you say is true, why is it they cannot influence us into buying their stuff instead of the Jap stuff?
|
Because they have not found a way to do so effectively. Sometimes marketing works and sometimes it doesn't.
In the 80s, Pepsi ran blind taste tests and more people picked Pepsi than Coke. Yet, on the survey they indicated they would still buy Coke over Pepsi. Do not underestimate the power of manipulation, which is the business of marketing.