Hold on just a minute there. You replied that "Nissan never laid off an employee, nor are they likely to start" in response to the rumor that it will relieve some of its workforce in the near future. That's rather confident and foolhardy.

So what's with the above preachy post about how everyone's job is temporary? Now it's POSSIBLE that Nissan will have layoffs?

Nissan is not a magical company that some think it is. When the entire world is feeling the crunch and the economy is slowing down, I don't see why Nissan is in any shape to be exempt from the effects of the shrinking economy.

 

Lets all gang up on the Nissan guy because it's not like this is a free country or anything



Back on topic.

I think it sucks that these manufacturers are pulling out of Detroit. I don't have the time or cash to fly out to LA from Ohio. Nor do I want to waste my time going to the Nissan dealer (or any other dealer) just to see a damn car. I've been going to the Detroit show since around 2000. It's always been something I do with my dad and I look forward to it every year. It's nice to just wander around and look at stuff and sit in it without being bugged by a dealer.

 

The rumor of layoffs? The only "rumor" is in the mind of seawolf06 based on what he heard the son of some guy he knows said.

As to my warning about how everyone's job is temporary; that's a philosophy that should be easily understood - those who don't understand it will likely experience it first hand.

I am curious how only a few posts ago you claimed complete ignorance of Nissan's financial performance since Mr. Ghosn became CEO; now you apparently know so much about Nissan that you feel you confident in expounding about Nissan's future financial results.

 

 

Link to the Automotive News video regarding pull-out from the NAIAS

http://www.autonews.com/article/2008...mailnewscast01

 

No, i don't claim to have knowledge of Nissan's financial situation, I had a misconception.

However, I don't need to know the financial status of every corporation to reasonably predict that most will see slower sales in the next several years.

I think it's reasonable to believe that all car manufacturers will have cutbacks. When they sell xx% less product than they used to, what would be the point of maintaining the same workforce?

I didn't refute your point that all jobs are temporary - however, you made it seem like Nissan is not going to layoff any employees anytime soon because it has never done so in the past. I cannot agree with that point. I wonder how you don't see a problem with that logic.

 

I will let the quotes form the video speak for themselves:

"Depressed economic situation are forcing it to pull out of the shows"

"This difficult decision reflects the state of the industry, and not the shows themselves."

 

If the slow-down in sales goes on for "years" then there may well be NO auto industry in the U.S. at which pint all bets are off.

However, there are plenty of other tools available for companies to handle temporary downturns in sales that don't require layoffs and Nissan, as are many other companies, are employing them.

Even when Nissan was just weeks away from bankruptcy; it didn't layoff manufacturing employees in the U.S. and Nissan isn't looking at anything so dire as it's already faced.

All transplant manufacturers in the U.S. are being hurt by a greatly reduced market (just as Detroit is) but with the exception of one or two transplant manufacturers who were already in trouble, what you are going to see are greatly reduced net incomes (not losses).

 

So what are you suggesting...do you believe there is something wrong with conserving cash/cutting costs in an economic downturn?

These ARE depressed economic times...that shouldn't be an an earth-shattering revelation to anyone.

 

That last sentence said it all. Southern California is perhaps the most car intensive area in the United States. Everything from Hybrids to rear drive performance cars from customizing shops to every dealer from Chevrolet to Ferrari plentiful & in easy access, not to mention home of the most massive freeway system in the country.

Then there's the fact that during showtime you never have to deal with snow or sub-60 (let alone sub 30) degree tempreatures (65° today, 71° Friday). New York's unions at the convention center are nortoriously hard to work with, LAs are comparatively a cakewalk.

The big 3 automakers once dominated the world, and Detroit is their hometown. No disrespect to Detroit, but outside of being the center of the US auto industry, there is no real reason that one would expect it to be host of the North American International Auto Show.

New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles are all major US cities. Even Pittsburgh Pennsylvania has a bigger population than Detroit. Having the focus on Detroit over Chicago is like having the focus out here on San Diego instead of Los Angeles (though the smaller San Diego is far nicer than LA while one can not say the same of Detroit over Chicago). Then there's the weather.

I don't think the issue is floorspace. I think it's relevence.

 

I am suggesting that this is neither the time nor place in history to feel safe about layoffs. And it appears that you agree.

So really, we have no argument.

 

I would vote for moving the NAIAS to either Fort Lauderdale (or some FL city) or perhaps Atlanta (or how about Savannah GA - now there is a beautiful city) if they want to have it in January...either city would be more accommodating weather wise don't you think?

 

Major global international auto shows happen in key cities. Geneva, Paris, Sydney, & Frankfurt. Here in the US, the 3 biggest cities are New York, LA, and Chicago. If you go by weather (and market) I'd say LA wins.

That goes without mentioning that every US automaker and most imports have at least a major office if not an entire studio or development center in Southern California. Most are concentrated in and around Orange county. That includes Metalworkers, a business that builds most concepts assembled off premise of the major manufacturers.

I don't think Florida or Georiga can say that, can they?

 

No they can't but I would suggest that getting to the show would be a lot easier for a lot of people than everyone going to CA.

Personally, other than traveling Route 66, I do my best to avoid California and usually only venture as far West as Lass Vegas...maybe Vegas is where the show needs to be???

 

we do have the nice weather thought.