[jessduntno]

See post #10.

[Paladin2]

GM and Ford (not much direct experience with Chrysler) have been known to acquire supplier knowledge/designs and then bring in another supplier to make parts without having to amortize the development costs.

It could be more widespread now, but as a business practice it's not new. I've seen vendors put out of business back in the day (in one case the vendor also made parts for a different GM division and that division was plenty PO'd to have their parts stop flowing).