The domestic auto industry is in a crisis.
Sales are at an all-time low. The domestic auto makers -- General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler --- are having to re-convert plants from producing SUVs and pickup trucks to producing smaller, more fuel efficient cars. Those who are able are finding the need to bring in small, fuel efficient vehicles from their plants overseas. Finally all are continuing to work toward the development of more hybrids or the introduction of a pure electric vehicle.
The problems are known to everyone.
So, if you were employed by one of these companies and got wind that a new start up company that produces said cars is looking for execs, wouldn’t you jump ship to join the start up?
Apparently, that is what’s happening.
The company is Tesla, the brainchild to the Telsa electric roadster Those doing the jumping include Franz von Holzhausen, formerly of Mazda who is considered one of the best young designers in the business; Mike Donoughe, former vice president of product development for Chrysler; and Deepak Ahuja, the former controller of Ford’s small car product development program. He joins Tesla as its new chief financial officer.
Pundits are saying that this means the cream of the crop in the auto industry don’t see a future working with the traditional auto makers like GM, Chrysler, and Ford. There could be more changes.