Building A Better Automaker

CBS Evening News: Where American Companies Lack, Japanese Car Makers And Workers Are Thriving

(CBS)  Toyota, like other car markers, is trimming production as sales fall. So it might be a surprise how workers there feel about the future of their jobs.

"I am very secure in my job," said autoworker Bryan Gorden. "I think we make a quality product."

That's because these Texans work for a Japanese company, CBS News correspondent Barry Petersen reports.

"I kind of feel like Charlie from 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,' because I got the golden ticket," Gorden said.

Job security is a Japanese cultural tradition - a belief that workers are so important they are the last to be cut.

When Tundra pickup truck production stopped here for three months, some workers were out the door all right -- but on a furlough spent doing community service in San Antonio parks at full pay until the assembly line restarted and they went back to their regular jobs.

For running a tight, employee-friendly ship, the head of Toyota makes roughly $1 million. His company will make $5 billion, even in this tough year.

Ford's CEO makes a lot more, and losses could hit $7.5 billion.

At GM, good pay for the boss, and losses of $15.9 billion.

Lower salaries mean that for Japanese automakers, it's not about bailouts, but rollouts. Like the first Honda Civic at a new plant that opened in Indiana this week.

And having cash on hand for designing ever more new models despite a bleak outlook from the head of Nissan.

"The U.S. market remains extremely depressed, Europe continues to go down, Japan continues to go down," said Nissan's CEO, Carlos Ghosn.

But Nissan isn't letting tough times crimp the push for new technology.

A sleeker version of their all-electric car will hit American streets in about 2010, and in 2012, there will be one in a showroom near you, with a range of about 100 miles, or maybe more.

While the Big Three worry about paying their bills next month, Japan's car markers are already planning for next year and after … so that when the recession ends, Americans will have even more reasons to buy Japanese.

[valenzdoc]

there''s something to be said about using good business practices. I agree that the founding fathers for the big 3 would be so disappointed. These ceo''s lust for the dollar has blinded them. If they are able to overcome this I hope they rid themselves of those who put them in this position and begin to think "long term" solutions.

[hitoyou1]

The wages of the UAW didn''''t kill Detroit. Less middle class in America able to afford new cars killed Detroit. "YES THE WAGES OF THE UAW DID KILL DETROIT"

[hitoyou1]

The UAW is BS. Not wortha dime, don''t know what work is, are wortless at doing anything, they can drink beer and do dope, but that is all. They don''t want anything but a hand out. Nost can not do a days work and never will do a days work. Union are good for one thing, keeping paople at jobs they can not DO. Some one to keep there job for them, that is why people are in a union.

[andylance1]

Congress should give 25 billion each to Toyota and Nissan to build factories in Michigan and tell the big three to go to hades where sun don''t shine.

Ford and GM have had very few decent cars made since the 1960s. Detroit cars don''t get better, they get bigger and longer and thirstier. Detroit management and union druggies and alcoholics have dug their own grave - RIP.

[emperorlotku]

Last night CNN aired a broadcast from The Upper Deck Tavern in Moraine Ohio. It is right next door to the GM Moraine Assembly plant. This bar specialized in lunches where the "quality" union workers would get as many beers consumed as possible during lunch and then return to work to put brakes on cars that our children are in. It is also next door to the GM parking lot where all the drug trafficking has been occuring for decades. Now the drinking and drugging was tolerated because the "entitled" union workers were protected by a system that expected the lowest quality from the least qualified. Only half of the union workers that "worked" this plant had a work ethic that could be transferable to another job environment. Most of them will have a huge problem getting reemployed because of the sad reputation of the unions.

[babooph]

THE OLD SET UP OF LOBBYISTS GETTING IMPORT QUOTA & TAXES ON FOREIGN AUTOS-will continue,combined with our best engineer graduates going for war stuff& the big $$,leaving 2nd rate design for consumer goods-it clearly failed,but corruption has no bottom.

[jsd330]

billpl Wake up the UAW has no say on what the companies build, never have and I doubt they ever will. The CEO''s and the MBA''s look at what the designers come up with and then they decide if it is profitable to produce.

[cjw3cma]

PLEASE let the American automobile industry declare bankruptcy and do the necessary reorganization that is so overly due. Henry Ford would be ashamed of what his car company has become. Hundreds of millions of dollars paid to top executives for doing what? The same job that almost everyone does for 1/3 the money (if not 1/4). Let them fail. From their ashes may come 21st century minded organizations that will produce fuel efficient products that the current American companies have fought tooth and nail to keep from being implemented. No excuse that comes from the mouths of the auto execs is to be believed. Let them fail.

[newlector]

I think the real problem is the Union, the employees are OVER PAY, and all the benefits they have!!!
I hear they have 12,000 people who are standby earning $73.00 an hour...that sucks.
The CEO''s are waiting millions of dollars.
Facts:
Not all of us like American cars
Most of them are ugly and over price
They offer lower miles per gallon

Toyota, Nissan, Honda even Hyundai have better cars for the same amount of money or less...and these cars are made in USA.
Buy and American car now any brand and try to sell it one year latter and you see how much you can get IF YOU FIND A BUYER!!!
Buy a Japanese or Korean car and you will have a different experience, don''t believe me, check the Blue Book or go to Edmund.com
Being patriotic is GOOD being Stupid is Wrong...

[beach671]

Quit selling out American workers. They have families they are trying to support. Detroit made $15,000 profit on every single SUV. The American pony car is full of Communist China parts.how much profit from the Ford Mustang is being made while everyone wants to kill yet more American jobs and their wages?

Our purpose should not be to make Kings who get all the money and profits and demand we get less and unable to buy those Detroit cars.


Quit killing the middle class, or the economy will get much worse. The wages of the UAW didn''t kill Detroit. Less middle class in America able to afford new cars killed Detroit.