As an auto industry professional I'm content to sit back and view Detroits decision to refocus on cars as a plus for consumers and potential profitability for the Big 3. As a consumer, on the other hand, I'm angered by the statements I read in the recent Detroit News article entitled, "Cars take lead in '04".

The first thing that upsets me is the fact that it appears the primary focus for Detroit during the last decade was solely on short term profits rather than a focus on building a line up of quality, appealing vehicles that customers will come back for time and time again.

"In the 1990s, they focused on high-margin sport utility vehicles and pickups and did not invest sufficiently in less-profitable cars", is how the article read.

The article also implies that had it not been for the entrance of foreign competition in the truck and SUV segments, Detroit auto makers would probably have kept on keeping on with the same approach. As the article put it?

"After years of major investments in their core pickups and SUVs, Ford Motor, General Motors and DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group are making cars the top priority again. Detroit's automakers desperately need to spruce up their neglected passenger car lineups because they are losing their longtime monopoly on profitable trucks and SUVs -- now under assault by Asian and European rivals."

I guess the thing that bothers me the most is that these same manufacturers are trying to push dealers on the concept of "customer first" while their own behaviors based on product development have been anything but customer focused.

Got an opinion?