[RightWhale]

The auto industry is a major leader of the national economy. When autos sag, the economy slows. Which one is the cause and which the effect is not clear, it is somewhat symbiotic. Autos weaken, economy slows, other sectors, including housing follow. The question is how long and how deep the effects.

[BurbankKarl]

I think we are seeing the beginning of the end....

The end of what, I don't know....

[kaktuskid]

The auto industry is a major leader of the national economy. When autos sag, the economy slows. Which one is the cause and which the effect is not clear, it is somewhat symbiotic. Autos weaken, economy slows, other sectors, including housing follow. The question is how long and how deep the effects.

Actually TOTAL US car sales are up..including import brands.
Why are Toyota, BMW, and M/B expanding their US plants if auto sales are bad?

[Southack]

"The auto industry is a major leader of the national economy. When autos sag, the economy slows."

That was partially true decades ago, but not valid in modern times at all.

General Motors, the largest producers of cars in the world, has a mere $16 Billion market cap. That's less than Nike...heck, that's less than Harley Davidson ($17 Billion).

The U.S. has a $12 Trillion annual economy. If $16 Billion in market cap disappeared completely, the U.S. at large would never even notice. Losing 1/1,000th of our annual GDP wouldn't even impact a single year of our growth, and future years would certainly never feel it.