Edmunds CarPool

Companies like GM & Ford are realy anomalies...if you subscribe to the theory of "Creative Destruction", at least. Look at IBM. They originally made tabulating devices and typewriters, then were the "big iron" in computers, now they're centered around services and consulting, having divested all their PC business (which they CREATED!)
 
GM and Ford...umm...still make automobiles. In the current environment, no corporate culture can survive intact over that long a period. GM is undergoing massive internal changes, and so must Ford to survive.

The Big 3 have done far better than most other large manufacturing companies in this country. The US isnt really the place for mass manufacturing of expensive goods anymore and thats why aside from the auto industry and Boeing and catapillar you dont see much of that stuff UNLESS its paid for buy government/military spending. most large industrial companies that started in the same era as GM and ford are in worse shape or defunct by now. while lack of quality and other issues play a part in the decline of any business there are other factors that come into play. Its not coincidence that the US' manufacturing footprint is smaller than ever and shrinking every year. While some will say US companies have lost ground due to worker and management incompetence but I disagree. It has been proven many times over that US workers can compete when given the chance.

In the big corporate world all depends in the real managment style and market opportunity. The company that survives the changes and apply to them will keep doing business. Unions, is not only for the US car makers. Both European, Asian car manufacturers have to deal with their own unions in their respective countries and many enviromental issues.
 
We are in the phase where new players will take place in the car market and others will dissapear.

Evolution and execution are the key factors.

Love the Chevy Suburban picture, which, BTW, began life around 1935 or so.
 
I don't think a company being 100 years old has anything to do with it. It's really about who's been running the company all those years, and the culture that has been created during that timespan.

Toyota's first american workers (Kentucky & NUMMI) were hired in the 1980's. They should have their 30 years in and start retiring sometime after 2010. Not only will Toyota be paying health insurance on the employee doing a certain job, but also the retiree who used to do that job. This will definetly be a drag on their operating profits.

Most car companies died long ago, so nothing special about 100 years. (Packard, Auburn, Mercer, Delorean, you can go on and on.)

I don't think companies have lifespans, but I do think industries do.
 
Is the auto industry past its zenith? Perhaps. We won't know for many years.
 
A few industries to consider:
Railroad
Farming
Utilities
Music (perhaps?)
Film (has to be a blockbuster to make money anymore)
Medical (lucrative but implosive)
Housing (referring to Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac)
Postal
 
Many once-profitable industries have become marginalized as they became older. Some became government branches; others became subsidized. In a capitalist society, I'd imagine many probably ran for 100 years or so before intervention was required. Could the auto industry undergo such a process? I remember not too long ago Detroit industry leaders were begging in the oval office.

Any company develops corporate culture over the time and to change it is extremely difficult unless you fire all employees including higher management. You may think Ghosn changed corporate culture at Nissan. But wait until Ghosn gone – all troubles will surface back. So yes – you can add Nissan to your list already, no need to wait for 100 years. Other brands I would add are FIAT, SAAB, Jaguar, Mitsu, Mazda. Brands like Jeep, Volvo, Subaru have some value so they may survive a brands of rich parents.
 
American corporate culture developed long time ago and does not fit current environment anymore. Unions has to go. CEO behaviour has to change. There are no guarantee anymore. Most important thing is team work with high level of employee education and devotion to work overtime without additional pay. To see what I am talking about just visit Silicon Valley. Live free or die hard.
 
And most important there is a new thing - global shakeout. And government can do nothing about it.

Mercedes-Benz proves this theory incorrect, unless you think of it as the anomaly. As a matter of fact, Daimler is the world's oldest automaker and is in great shape. It has had its ups and downs but by far it is worth a whole lot more than GM, Ford and Chrysler combined and is in no financial trouble.