MrFedEx
Engorged Member
Detroit was mismanaged and quality was really poor for decades. After WWII, the American automakers turned their nose to Lean Manufacturing that became the Toyoda system and Japan started to kill us with greater efficiency, a passion for continuous improvement, and a dedicated workforce.
GM management made the decision to accept contracts for losses, not the union.
Plus, the Big 3 outsourced a lot of their production, especially to Mexico. The biggest problem with GM, Ford, and Chrysler was management, not labor. "Roger and Me" illustrates this beautifully.