| The hardening of the plan of reorganization of Ford did | | | | success of its new Punto. |
| not convince anybody, and especially not the financial | | | | The example of FIAT shows consequently that hopes |
| markets. How else could it have been if the | | | | of rebound exist in the automobile sector. At the same |
| manufacturer has adopted a traditional strategy of | | | | time, the margin of error narrows more and more, in |
| reduction of the costs? Admittedly, this purging will | | | | particular as regards launching of new models, |
| inevitably have a positive impact on the accounts. But it | | | | because the competition is increasingly wild on the |
| is not likely to start it again if Ford is on the way of the | | | | market, in particular in Western Europe. And there are |
| development whereas its marketshares decrease | | | | the French manufacturers who are going to face the |
| unrelentingly on the other side of the Atlantic. A report | | | | same problems, as the last figures of the European |
| which is also worth for its large American competitor | | | | market prove. Admittedly, the situation of Renault and |
| General Motors. The fact that GM removed, during ten | | | | PSA is not comparable with that Ford and General |
| last years, 60 % of its manpower did not draw it from | | | | Motors. However, the problems start to accumulate: |
| the rut. | | | | loss of marketshares, failure of certain models |
| For the American manufacturers, the report is clear: | | | | (Peugeot 1007, the Citroen C3 Pluriel), underutilization of |
| their offer does not answer the expectations of the | | | | the facilities, too great dependence on the European |
| market. Their enormous 4×4 is penalized by the | | | | market, without forgetting the departure of the PSA |
| rise of the gasoline. They are not present enough on | | | | chairman. |
| the segment in growth of the "crossover", these | | | | Important strategic choices will undoubtedly have to be |
| 4×4 equipped with a truck motorization. And, | | | | made in the near future which, taking into account the |
| next to them, the Asian ones (Toyota, Honda, Nissan, | | | | place of the car industry in the French economy, will |
| Hyundai) show more inventiveness in increasingly | | | | be perhaps full of consequences. Two questions in this |
| required vehicles of niche. Because, in the car as in | | | | respect. The first regards the negotiations which are |
| other industries, such as the pharmacy or technologies | | | | currently being carried out between Renault-Nissan |
| information, the key of success resides more than | | | | and General Motors: is American the best possible |
| ever in the innovation, the capacity to put quickly on | | | | partner, knowing his difficulties? In the opposite |
| the market original and effective products. Thus FIAT, | | | | direction, is the splendid isolation of Jean-Martin Folz at |
| which one did not give chances of rectification not so | | | | PSA the good solution when the Volkswagen group is |
| long time ago, today is having a spectacular | | | | seen, reinforced by Audi, Seat and Skoda, today's |
| come-back success thanks in particular to the | | | | leader in Europe? |