The Competitive Status Of The U S Auto Industry

The papers in this collection provide important new material on this industry in crisis which is critical to the economies of the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The authors examine major changes in the industry, and how government policies in the three countries have promoted, protected and shaped it.

Analyzes the performance of the industry after the North American Free-Trade Agreement took effect, in each of the three countries and on the continent as a whole. Also looks at the impact of environmental regulations. The studies were funded by automobile companies and reviewed by personnel representing them. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Distributed to some depository libraries in microfiche.

This book, originally published in 1994, explores the effects of federal policies on the US auto industry in the 1970s and 80s which were designed to save jobs and help the domestic industry become more competitive. The author develops a new model based on modern oliopoly theory to estimate the effects of the voluntary Restraint Agreements (which limited Japanese imports) on the US auto market. The results demonstrate that VRAs caused price increases which adversely affected the comptitiveness of US producers. On the eve of a new Trump administration, and the likelihood of new restrictions on imports to boost US manufacturing, this book has particular enduring relevance.

This volume presents realistic estimates for the level of fuel economy that is achievable in the next decade for cars and light trucks made in the United States and Canada. A source of objective and comprehensive information on the topic, this book takes into account real-world factors such as the financial conditions in the automotive industry, costs and benefits to consumers, and marketability of high-efficiency vehicles. The committee is composed of experts from the fields of science, technology, finance, and regulation and offers practical evaluations of technological improvements that could contribute to increased fuel efficiency. The volume also examines potential barriers to improvement, such as high production costs, regulations on safety and emissions, and consumer preferences. This practical book is of considerable interest to car and light truck manufacturers, policymakers, federal and state agencies, and the public.