One way to measure car manufacturing plans is to count platforms. And when you do that, it looks like Cadillac is planning to charge ahead and Mitsubishi plans to cut back production big time on its Eclipse and Spyder models.
A car's "platform" is the vehicle's basic structure. Think of it as sort of the car frame and several models are usually built off the same platform. That way the manufacturer saves money by building several very different-looking model vehicles that actually are all built on the same frame.
So, the theory goes, when a manufacturer cuts back on the quantity of units of a specific platform it is building, that usually means they plan on cutting back the number of cars being built that use that platform. So, for Mitsubishi, they cut back platform production over half of what was built in the same 6 month period a year ago. But for Cadillac, they upped the CTS-SRX-STS platform production by 151%.
These are the two extremes with lots scattered in between. The results are curious.
Platform cuts include BMW's Z4, Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky, and the PT Cruiser. Platform increases include the Chevy Malibu, Pontiac G6, Saturn Aura, VW Jetta, and the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger.
The Malibu has been a hot seller since its redesign, so that increase is no surprise. Odd, though, is the sharp looking Solstice and Sky cutbacks. The pricey Z4 may not surprise some, but the PT Cruiser has been a long-selling cost effective money-maker for Chrysler. Perhaps the model is just getting tired.
What the numbers show is that the manufacturers are tweaking future production in light of market changes constantly. So, the question is, when are they going to go electric? All these gas sipper changes are only a temporary fix for fuel price issues that will never go away. Many people don't recall the gas production cutbacks imposed by the Middle East that caused gas station lines and high prices back in the mid 1970's. There was a rush to build fuel-sippers to fill a short-term market demand back then, and here we go again.
In the long run, the only way to fix the fuel issue is to start building cars and trucks that simply use less fuel. As for us, frankly higher fuel prices may hurt our pocketbook right now, but the lessons they can teach us for the future can be invaluable, if we only listen better this time around.
Meanwhile, if you've got a lemon you want to get rid of, email or call us today1-888-331-6422 Toll Free . Whether it sips gas or sucks it big time, they ought to build them right in the first place. If your's isn't one of them, we can help you get your money back or a new car for free. Call us now.
A car's "platform" is the vehicle's basic structure. Think of it as sort of the car frame and several models are usually built off the same platform. That way the manufacturer saves money by building several very different-looking model vehicles that actually are all built on the same frame.
So, the theory goes, when a manufacturer cuts back on the quantity of units of a specific platform it is building, that usually means they plan on cutting back the number of cars being built that use that platform. So, for Mitsubishi, they cut back platform production over half of what was built in the same 6 month period a year ago. But for Cadillac, they upped the CTS-SRX-STS platform production by 151%.
These are the two extremes with lots scattered in between. The results are curious.
Platform cuts include BMW's Z4, Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky, and the PT Cruiser. Platform increases include the Chevy Malibu, Pontiac G6, Saturn Aura, VW Jetta, and the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger.
The Malibu has been a hot seller since its redesign, so that increase is no surprise. Odd, though, is the sharp looking Solstice and Sky cutbacks. The pricey Z4 may not surprise some, but the PT Cruiser has been a long-selling cost effective money-maker for Chrysler. Perhaps the model is just getting tired.
What the numbers show is that the manufacturers are tweaking future production in light of market changes constantly. So, the question is, when are they going to go electric? All these gas sipper changes are only a temporary fix for fuel price issues that will never go away. Many people don't recall the gas production cutbacks imposed by the Middle East that caused gas station lines and high prices back in the mid 1970's. There was a rush to build fuel-sippers to fill a short-term market demand back then, and here we go again.
In the long run, the only way to fix the fuel issue is to start building cars and trucks that simply use less fuel. As for us, frankly higher fuel prices may hurt our pocketbook right now, but the lessons they can teach us for the future can be invaluable, if we only listen better this time around.
Meanwhile, if you've got a lemon you want to get rid of, email or call us today1-888-331-6422 Toll Free . Whether it sips gas or sucks it big time, they ought to build them right in the first place. If your's isn't one of them, we can help you get your money back or a new car for free. Call us now.
Burdge Law Office
www.NewCarLemonLaw.com
Because life is too short to put up with a lemon.
Click here to see what your state's Lemon Law says.
www.NewCarLemonLaw.com
Because life is too short to put up with a lemon.
Click here to see what your state's Lemon Law says.