Turning Japanese?
In this day and age where money is hard to come by and we want to get the most for our dollar, it's getting increasingly harder to stay loyal to brands, or our country for that matter. Take cars, consumer should consider purchasing Japanese built cars over cars built domestically because they are safer, less expensive and have better fuel consumption.
I've never been one to fall into the whole American vs. Foreign car debate, I’ve just driven whatever I happen to like, if it suited my needs. I've owned domestic and foreign alike and both have worked out for me; some have made very good impressions on me over the years. I am a person who will stay loyal to a brand that works until it doesn't work any longer. I do have certain American made vehicles that I am very fond of but there are more foreign cars, Japanese made cars that continue to win me over. And now with the economy in the condition it’s in and the uncertainty of gas prices it’s best to have the best all around vehicles.
Back in the day there was no doubting the safety that an American car could provide, they were made out of steel and big as a tank, solid. Now, they are all made out of aluminum and fiberglass leaving us with having to choose the safest tin can we can find. Typically Japanese cars test better than domestic cars for safety because they endure a more rigorous testing process. The "National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)" testing has remained the same "as when it began" in the late 70's aside from the addition of "side impact" testing, "adopted" from their European counterparts. Japan's "National Organization for Automotive Safety & Victims' Aid (OSA)" uses the frontal collision test "from the NHTSA, the side collisio...
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...Works: http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2010-honda-insight-3.htm
Douglas, R. (2008, December 23). The United Auto Workers Union as Greedy as Wall Street. Retrieved August 7, 2010, from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1295183/the_united_auto_workers_union _as_ greedy_pg2.html
EURO NCAP. (2009). Retrieved August 7, 2010, from Safecarguide.com: http://www.safecarguide.com/exp/euroncap/idx.htm
New Cars - Safety. (2010, April). Retrieved August 7, 2010, from ConsumerReport.org: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/buying-advice/best-worst-cars-review/best-for-overall-safety/best-for-overall-safety.htm
NHTSA - US NCAP. (2009). Retrieved August 7, 2010, from Safecar Guide: http://www.safecarguide.com/exp/usncap/idx.htm
OSA - Japan NCAP. (2009). Retrieved August 7, 2010, from Safecar Guide: http://www.safecarguide.com/exp/jpncap/idx.htm
The Big Three automobile companies, General Motors, Chrysler, and Ford, also had a very demanding labor union, the United Auto Workers or UAW, which asked for many benefits and salary requirements which lowered their ability to compete with other companies on the market, foreign and non-union. The average...
Characteristics of our society reflect in the outcome of purchasing tendencies. How many of us can honestly say we make a valid effort to purchase goods made in our own country? In our face paced world where both parents are in the work force, raising children, social activities and everything else, who has time to make an effort? Most often, consumers only care about marking off the s...
... of Labor Unions in Labor Markets. In R. C. Free (Ed.), 21st Century Reference Series. 21st Century Economics (Vol. 1, pp. 163-172). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Reference. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.library3.webster.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX1700400026&v=2.1&u=edenweb_main&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w
The last bolt is screwed on as a relieved automotive worker marvels at his wondrous creation: a car. With the roar of an engine, the car slowly disappears into the distance. The worker gradually turns around, picks up his tools, and continues to work on a new car. As a consumer, we rarely wonder how things are made; we simply take everything we own for granted. For once, have you wondered how many hours of hard labor many automotive workers must go through? The automotive industry has been around for many years, but it has not always been as efficient as it currently is. As the industry continues to evolve, many new innovative ideas are still being developed. In the past, automotive workers have had to work in harsh conditions without much security or job benefits. Nevertheless, through the continuous development of organized collective bargaining, workers are being treated as they should be. Being the largest automobile manufacturer in the world, General Motors Corporation has been greatly affected by the needs of their workers. Rick Wagoner, CEO of General Motors, is currently in charge of “running the show” at GM. Being the most successful automotive company since 1931, it is obvious that he not only has to satisfy customers, but also the workers within the company. From the smallest things such as a work raise to bigger things such as the working condition, the management of General Motors has been pressured to make both positive and negative changes to the way the company is run as a whole in order to satisfy the workers who are part of the UAW Union. Therefore, the formation and development of unions encompasses both pros and cons.
The world of technology is ever changing and advancing. With the automotive industry in play technology is constantly surpassing what is available today with what can be done for tomorrow. Technology and the automotive industry go hand in hand with constant improvement to components of cars. Due to technology advancement there is competition within the car industry, especially between American car companies and European car companies. European car companies provide their buyers with innovative variety and revolutionary luxuries. European car technology is superior to American car technology due to their safety, entertainment, and luxury features.
BMW soon realized that many threats impacted its market share in U.S. The Japanese auto manufacturers started building plants in the U.S. to deal with the increased U.S. demand at a lower cost than importing their cars. BMW's U.S. export situation was made even worse by the appreciation of German mark and additionally the higher German labor costs. As a result, the decision was made in 1991 to bui...
Muscle cars have always been a big in the United States such as the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, and Chevrolet Corvette. These cars have been some of the most popular cars for the past 35 or more years, but over the past 20 years, Japanese cars are becoming more and more popular. Many people who are into muscle cars despise these 'imports' and people who are into these imports have the same feelings toward muscle cars. These two types of car lovers have a strong dislike for each other and these cars. Many people see both muscle and import cars as just a car and don't perceive any difference between the two cars.
Unions traditionally were “a continuous association of wage earners for the purpose of maintaining or improving the condition of their employment” (Webb & Webb, 1894, as cited in Bryson, 2011b, slide 7). Their function was to campaign for compassionate management procedures, equivalent bargaining power between employers and employees, and for fairness and democracy to be initiated into the workplace (Bryson, 2011a). Union activity at this time tended to focus on nationwide bargaining for industrial groups (Geare, 1983, as cited in Haynes, 2005), with their role seen as wage bargainers and in...
Domhoff discusses the prevalence of labor unions in the New Deal era. In fact, by 1945, with the help of the liberal-labor alliances, union membership had increased five-fold to fifteen million in that past decade (pg. 172). However, after 1945, the liberal-labor alliances never saw a victory against corporate conservatives. Because of the corporate world’s domination of policy implementation, politicians rules time and again against labor unions because it works in corporate America’s favor. Labor unions serve as many working class Americans’ avenue into the political sphere; denying them a right to unionize is not only a fundamental violation of free speech but also morally and ethically wrong. Overall, Domhoff’s critique of wealthy politicians (primarily Republicans) is merited considering he argues empirically with statistics supporting extremely skewed voting trends against unions. Additionally, Domhoff’s argument exudes sympathy toward those less fortunate; I share Domhoff’s sentiment that is imperative we promote equality amongst classes, one way in which we should do so is through advocacy of labor
Flanagan, R. J. (2005). Has Management Strangled U.S. Unions? Journal of Labor Research, 26(1), 33-63.
For over fifty years, Toyota has established over 50 bases in 26 different countries and regions. Their automobiles have found their way into over 170 countries across the entire globe. In addition, Toyota has design and R&D bases in nine locations overseas, with this they prove that they have achieved consistent globalization as well as localization. The most important part in any Toyota base is the quality assurance. They don’t stamp their product with “Made in the USA” or “Made in Japan”, but instead opt for one label for all: “Made by TOYOTA.” This shows that the product is made in the “Toyota Way.” To achieve this, the company minimized support that comes from Japan to let each of their foreign locations become self-reliant. For example, a Toyota plant recently began production in Texas has made maximum use of its sibling’s experience in Kentucky which has been cultivated over the past 20 years. Toyota believes that in order to reach their goals is through educating people. Multiple Global Production Centers have been built within Motomachi Plant in Toyota City, in United States, the United Kingdom, and Thailand to carry our corresponding activities in the Asia-Pacific, European, and North American regions. To promote the “Toyota Way”, the Toyota Institute established an internal human resources development organization in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania. As you can see the pros of the globalization of Toyota are endless. This company alone has created millions of jobs across the world. Winners are not only the workers, but also the buyers, without globalization Toyota automobiles would only be available in Japan. Many people, including me, see globalization of this kind as a beneficial and advantageous result. Toyota companies have not only created jobs for thousands if not millions of people, but their
Throughout its history, Japan has striven to define its national identity not by its own means, but by those predefined by foreign, and most recently, Western powers. Despite legends of the island archipelago being created by the sun goddess Amaterasu, Japan seems to have consistently maintained a indecisive self-image with respect to its neighbors. In the past, China had represented the pinnacle of culture and technology and had tremendously influenced other surrounding countries in Asia and in the world. Indeed, Japan owes its written language to imported and adapted Chinese characters. Without question, China remained for a long time the most influential force upon Japan. However, island nation maintained a rather precarious self-identity: How could a country like Japan, which was supposedly created by the gods and therefore a divine nation, consider itself the apex of the world, given China’s tremendous influence and power? Could Japan truly consider itself the greatest land in the world if China, or Chugoku in Japanese, literally meant “the central country?” For this reason, Japan never truly accepted a position of “belonging” to Asia. That is, despite a considerable amount of imported culture, Japan was still somehow inherently different from other Asian countries.
BMW having high market share in European and U.S luxury car markets, started facing issues with launch product qualities and also facing a fierce competition from Japanese producers. Currently the market share was still stable but the rigorous growth of Japanese producers would affect BMW in future. These Japanese competitors had set higher standards of conformance.
Despite the facts that many of the most powerful markets on the planet operate within the capitalistic principle of free trade. Despite the fact that Western Europe is now border-free within its bounds and uses the same common currency. And despite the fact that the USSR s Iron Curtain has fallen more than a decade ago, the people of this world have never expressed their need to belong to a national identity as much as they do today. In response to international organized terrorism, mass media and political pressure, the average consumer today is looking for security, truth, and for a product tailored to his need. A product that reflects the international society we live in today but also carries the cultural identity of the consumer buying it. Or at least carries one that can be compatible with it.
Nissan- focused differentiation, medium pricing, breadth of product line is high. A strength is styling, and a weakness is some Americans simply will not buy any car that is not American made; obviously this weakness applies to all imports, but is only listed once.