On the Skids: Are U.S. Automakers Running Out of Time?

October 29, 2008
The global financial crisis is hurting sales for automakers worldwide, but the U.S. Big Three are falling into a deeper hole than most. With sales down as much as 25% this year, GM and Chrysler are discussing a merger even as they are reported to be running out of cash and in line for early access to a $25 billion low-interest government loan. Kirk Kerkorian, meanwhile, is selling his $1 billion stake in Ford. Wharton Professors John Paul MacDuffie and Larry Hrebiniak talked with Knowledge@Wharton about the industrys challenges.