WHAT AM I THINKING?

By Peter M. DeLorenzo

Detroit. Writing a column about the automobile business doesn’t hold much interest for me this week; it seems inconsequential and irrelevant. But I will press on nonetheless. (I’ll have more comments on the past week’s events later).

In the news this week?  The Detroit Auto Show – scheduled for the Fall of 2021 – has been cancelled, again. In its place will be an enthusiast-focused event held at the M1 Concourse, in Pontiac, north of Detroit, called “Motor Bella.” The M1 Concourse has a 1.5-mile track on the premises, so the idea is that multiple manufacturers will be able to display their wares – statically and in motion – at various times during the three days of the event (September 21 – 26). 

Whether or not this event amounts to anything is a giant “we’ll see,” but I am absolutely sure of one thing: the idea of even having an auto show is a concept that’s out of touch with reality. Auto shows were on borrowed time to begin with even before the pandemic, as manufacturers had discovered that they could hold customized, controlled events for the press to get their messages out, and save hundreds of millions of dollars in the process. 

Yes, there was a time when auto shows were welcomed and even looked forward to, but those days are now dust in the wind. Perhaps this will lead to a return of auto dealers papering their windows over in the fall, as it will be the only time that consumers will get a close look at the new models that they’ve only been able to see on the Internet. Nah, what am I thinking? The fading of auto shows from the landscape is just one more example that the times in this business are a changin’ – for good.

In other news, the North American Car (Hyundai Elantra), Truck (Ford F-150) and Utility (Ford Mustang Mach-E) of the Year were named on Monday (1/11). Does this really mean anything other than to the 50 American and Canadian journalists on the review panel who got to drive all of the entries? Or the winning manufacturers? No. This used to be a manufactured “big deal” at the opening of press days at the now dearly departed Detroit Auto Show, in January, but even back then it was a tedious showcase of Not Much. This is another quaint ritual that was once a part of this business that has become irrelevant. You can deposit this “award” in the same file folder where you will find the hoary notion of having an auto show. It’s called “No One Cares Anymore.”

I wonder when the automobile manufacturers will wake up and move on from this folly? Nah, what am I thinking? The egos involved at the manufacturers won’t allow it to fade away. Why? Because they need outside validation of some kind that suggests that they have it goin’ on. It’s kind of pathetic when you really spend some time thinking about it, but it is what it is.

Meanwhile, Ford is trying to put a positive spin on the Shit Show – aka its presence in South America – that has the company closing three plants in Brazil, which will cost the company $4.1 billion with a “b.” The company insists that it’s all part of the “addition through contraction” plan first put forth by former CEO, Jim “The Professor” Hackett. Oh, that makes it all better, no? Current CEO, Jim “Jimmy Har-Har” Farley blathered on in a statement, saying, "We are moving to a lean, asset-light business model by ceasing production in Brazil and serving customers with some of the best and most exciting vehicles in our global portfolio…” Huh? You would think Ford would not try to put a spin on this by insisting that the company has it goin’ on. Nah, what am I thinking? They can’t pass up an opportunity to pump up Farley in the media, even though it stinks to high Heaven. As I said earlier, it’s kind of pathetic when you really spend some time thinking about it, but oh so predictable from Ford.

Then there’s Jeep (see this week’s “On The Table” -WG). The purveyors of four-wheel-drive adventure just couldn’t help themselves and are shouting from the rooftops that they’re bringing to market a new Jeep Grand Cherokee that has - “Ta-Dah” – THREE-ROW SEATING. Oh-EM-GEE! This industry has blown more money to stretch, alter and otherwise hack up vehicles just to be able to claim that they have a third row – a third row that most people do not want to be crammed into – than the average yearly take by FanDuel. I mean, really, folks. Do you really believe that having the option to stuff kids or adults in the third row in the back of your SUV du jour is really essential to your daily existence? How about, no? Is this likely to change anytime soon? Nah, what am I thinking?

And finally, as write this on Monday, I thought it might be a good time to mention that it is Alexander Hamilton’s birthday, one of this country’s Founding Fathers. Mr. Hamilton believed that government had to be wise and strong enough to achieve "the security of liberty against the enterprises and assaults of ambition, of faction, and of anarchy."

Truer words were never spoken. What went on in Washington last week was disgusting, disgraceful and unforgivable. And heartbreaking. Anyone who loves this country should have had these same feelings. It was the furthest thing from “patriotism” I have ever witnessed, and if you don’t see it that way you deserve to be run out of this country on a rail. 

But then again, hoping things will get better isn’t enough. It’s going to take every single one of us to believe in what this country stands for. Too many died so that we may live with the freedoms we enjoy, and I refuse to see us squander the privileges we are blessed with.

It is my sincere hope that this country can move forward to a better place, and that this rancor will be relegated to the dustbin of history. 

Nah, what am I thinking? It is going to be a long, hard road to recovery, folks. 

And that’s the High-Octane – and sad – Truth for this week.