Leno gives the U.S. automakers his two cents

In an editorial he penned for Conde Nast Portfolio (and carried by the folks at Wired), funnyman and serious car guy Jay Leno talks about the problems the American automakers currently face. They are myriad, and Leno makes some very important points, noting how American automakers have been over-cheapening economy cars, which only serves to drive people away from them into better, larger vehicles.

The issues came home to roost over the summer, and every automaker — not just those in Detroit — is adjusting to a reality in which consumers are looking at smaller and/or more efficient vehicles for the first time. Leno sees an opportunity here, pointing out that America has a handle on technology, and that it can lure in new buyers and build a new group of brand-loyal drivers with the next generation of hybrid, electric, and other alt-fuel cars.

Of course, this presumes they'll do it right, but really, do they have much of a choice? The market's changing, and while we'll always have our fun niche cars like Mustangs and Camaros and Corvettes, the mainstream vehicle as we know it is likely to undergo a transformation in the years to come. Detroit's in a hole. This is its opportunity to start digging out.

Leno's piece is a good one. Read the whole thing.

Alex Nunez's blog posts are provided by LifeWire, a part of The New York Times Company.