Carmakers Stumped by Trump at Detroit Auto Show
- Carmakers delay production decisions in ‘unstable’ environment
- Show floor’s disconnect with demand reflects long lead times
Can Automakers Afford Trump's U.S. Jobs Pressure?
The panoply of passenger cars and electric vehicles glittering at this year’s Detroit auto show -- at a time when sport utility vehicles are king -- shows just how tough it is for automakers to predict fickle consumer tastes. Divining the future will only get tougher under President Donald Trump.
How did the array of star cars here along the frozen Detroit River include the BMW 5 Series sedan and Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe, plug-in models from Mini and VW, and a newly chiseled Toyota Camry? Keep in mind companies probably committed to these models five years ago when gasoline was $3.60, Barack Obama was setting aggressive fuel-economy rules and Donald Trump was a reality TV host questioning the president’s nationality.