“The Germans are bad, very bad. Look at the millions of cars that they sell in the U.S.
Terrible. We’re going to stop that.” – President Donald Trump
Through the first four months of 2017, Germany-based automakers and their respective subsidiary brands have sold 413,000 new vehicles in the United States.
At a minimum, 28 percent of those vehicles were built in the United States at assembly plants in Alabama, Tennessee, and South Carolina. According to Automotive News, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen combined to produce 281,519 vehicles, the bulk of which were destined for export.
But to avoid even a faint whiff of statistical manipulation, TTAC has compiled the complete U.S. sales and production picture for each of these manufacturers. We present them to you with no limited commentary.
| Vehicle | U.S. April 2017 YTD Sales | U.S. April 2017 YTD Production |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class – Vance, Alabama | 27,098 | 28,455 |
| Volkswagen Passat – Chattanooga, Tennessee | 24,415 | 25,578 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class – Vance, Alabama | 17,374 | 59,322 |
| BMW X3 – Spartanburg, South Carolina | 16,773 | 50,997 |
| BMW X5 – Spartanburg, South Carolina | 15,472 | 56,290 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class – Vance, Alabama | 10,006 | 18,876 |
| BMW X6 – Spartanburg, South Carolina | 2,089 | 13,151 |
| BMW X4 – Spartanburg, South Carolina | 1,179 | 16,979 |
| Volkswagen Atlas – Chattanooga, Tennessee | — | 11,871 |
| Total | 114,406 | 281,519 |
Source: Manufacturers, Automotive News Data Center
In addition to the 54,478 sales of U.S.-built C-Class, GLE-Class, and GLS-Class vehicles, it’s worth noting Mercedes-Benz also sold 9,626 Sprinter and Metris vans in the United States so far this year. Mercedes-Benz assembles those vans in Ladson, South Carolina, but not in the conventional sense. Mercedes-Benz will be building vans in South Carolina at a traditional factory, but for now, the van’s assembly process is essentially a means of avoiding tariffs.
There are also a large number of Volkswagen-built products built inside the NAFTA zone in Puebla, Mexico. We’ve excluded those vehicles from the list above for a U.S.-specific picture.
With 35,513 sales of U.S.-built vehicles through the first one-third of 2017, BMW Group produces 33 percent of its U.S. sales volume with U.S.-built models: X3, X4, X5, and X6. Sales of BMW’s imported vehicles are down 10 percent in 2017, year-over-year. Sales of BMW’s domestically produced models are up 16 percent.
At the Mercedes-Benz brand – excluding those Sprinter vans and the Smart Fortwo — the 54,478 Alabama-built vehicles sold so far this year represents 51 percent of the Mercedes-Benz brand’s U.S. sales volume so far this year. The C-Class, GLE, and GLS models built in the U.S. have seen their sales rise 19 percent so far this year, while other Benzes have suffered a 13-percent sales decline.
At Volkswagen, where the Atlas was being produced in the first-third of 2017 but not yet on sale, the Volkswagen brand generated 24 percent of its January-April volume with the Tennessee-built Passat, sales of which are up 24 percent, year-over-year. Volkswagen’s other models, including the Mexican-built cars, are up 4 percent so far this year. Across the entire Volkswagen Group in 2017’s first four months, the U.S.-produced Passat accounted for 13 percent of total U.S. sales volume. With the Atlas coming onstream, that 13-percent figure will rise quickly.
With the relatively high-volume NAFTA zone Volkswagen vehicles included as foreign-built and with the U.S.-assembled Mercedes-Benz vans simply excluded from the equation, eight vehicles sold by German brands in America produced 28 percent of total BMW Group, Mercedes-Benz USA, and Volkswagen Group sales in 2017’s first four months. That’s 114,000 vehicles built in the U.S. and sold in the U.S. to go along with 290,000 vehicles sold in the U.S. but built elsewhere.
Again excluding the either/or/both Mercedes-Benz vans from the equation and including Mexican-built NAFTA zone cars among the imports, this places German automakers on track to sell roughly 350,000 U.S.-built vehicles in 2017 and 875,000 imports.
Timothy Cain is the founder of GoodCarBadCar.net and a contributing analyst at The Truth About Cars and Autofocus.ca. Follow on Twitter @timcaincars.
‘Merica!
Those Southern Factories are certainly in Trump votin’ states, aren’t they?
There are plenty of states that voted for our president, but some of the counties down there did voted blue. Those blue counties were major cities, where the infamous snowflake lives.
Outside of the trump sycophant members, trump makes absolutely no sense on reality. Two southern states that went all in for trump have been transformed by German automakers. South Carolina and Alabama are great examples on how German automakers helped make those states into manufacturing States. I’m sure many employees that work at those plants are shaking their heads this morning.
Anyone with an IQ over 64 should be shaking his head at this point.
You and all of your twins know quite well Trump isn’t trying to stop American produced German cars from being sold. The level of delusion one would have to be afforded would be astronomical.
What is with you guys continually editing his remarks or taking certain parts to make his words seem ridiculous and turning around to faux outrage? No one is stupid enough to actually believe it.
Your so blinded by hatred that your willing to risk looking ignorant in hopes of convincing idiots that there’s a problem.
Hummer-
trump words verbatim-
“The Germans are bad, very bad. Look at the millions of cars that they sell in the U.S.
Terrible. We’re going to stop that.” – President Donald Trump
Only a sycophant could spin those words.
This is just days after trump bowed down and gave the saudis a license to use United States military engineering. Yes, the USA will be training the saudis how to build 150 Lockheed Martin Black Hawk helicopters in the Kingdom.
And currently Saudi Arabia is being sued for paying and harboring the terrorists that caused 9/11.
FreedMike was not off on that IQ level.
Did you hear him say those words? Did you watch the video of the surrounding words? Send me the link of the full section of the speech you watched, you will be able to prove everything I’m saying is incorrect in one full swoop. Let’s say he was unclear; the speech he was given was on trade, so if he says the Germans are very bad and we need to stop them from sending us millions of cars, in a speech, on trade…. 2+2=?
Bowed down? Saudis treated Trump like a king, when the last president went he was barely even given the time of day. A king doesn’t kiss— to a pawn. Saudis may have their problems but they are the Strongest, most peaceful, and best Arab ally in the Middle East. Would you rather have a iffy friend or allow ISIS to take over Saudi Arabia. There’s no in between, if SA can’t defend itself to push out IS then they will be consumed by it. I can’t defend the atrocities of SA but their human rights issues must be compared to the conditions the countrymen would live in under IS. Granted I’m sure part of your problem is that Trump is literally rebooting our economy at a rate unseen in a generation, can’t have that get in the way of your narrative.
I you guys want to start a political fight about this BS, this site isn’t the right place.
@Hummer: Agree, some people just happen to be misinformed or just happen to be diehard liberals when it comes to news these days. I’m a Trump supporter myself and I’m just as tired of the crap that non supporters spout out (pretty much everyday).
Hummers,
Ok we see you live in a silo for knowledge. Sounds like mark levin is the apple of your eye.
Yes, trump bowed down because the saudis threw out the red carpet and kissed his you know what. Basically the saudis did to trump as what trump did to you. trump needs attention to breath and the saudis took full advantage of trump.
Did you ever ask yourself why so many links to russia and trump? Why so many people that work or did work for trump “forgot” add that they met with Russian operatives? Breaking up the EU is exactly what russia wants and dumph is the “tool” for russia.
Or why trump is so excited to be with our adversaries and makes a fool out of himself and this country with our allies?
Bottom line, some nice words and red carpet made trump forget 9/11. Then some low hanging fruit gave trump the ability to make another fool out of himself to our allies. trump is not about America first. He is about trump first and America somewhere far behind.
As for political crap. This article is about political crap.
“I you guys want to start a political fight about this BS, this site isn’t the right place.”
But you fed the fight with your own political BS statement above and then went on to agree with Hummer’s BS, neither of which registers on your own BS scale simply because they are BS you happen to agree with.
Hey, stop playing with matches, I don’t want to see the neighborhood burn down! *throws them a lighter*
See, now you’ve attracted the attention of VW4motion. Now a propane canister has been chucked onto the flames.
Did you ever ask yourself why so many links to russia and trump?
What links, didn’t you guys retire this narrative?
All you had was Flynn who was given his security clearance by Obama.
Trump showed power, he’s not a Beta and that scares you, understood.
You can’t ignore that SA is at risk of being taken over by IS, if that happens then terrorist attacks will become a weekly occurance like it is in Europe.
A Saudi Arabian named Osama Bin Laden, not Saudi Arabia itself, was behind 9/11.
And of course the Saudis and Trump had the obligatory cirle jerk. If the Kim Jong Un showed up in Washington, it’d be Pomp and Circumstance as well. That’s how head-of-state visits work everywhere.
There are enough valid criticisms of Trump out there that we don’t need to focus on stuff like this.
30-mile,
It’s been fun. But, don’t worry I’m done.
TTAC got what they wanted when they copied and pasted trump quotes on an automobile site.
>First talking point we hear is that Trump needs to talk to Kim before we start an all out war.
>Trump says he’s willing to talk to Kim
> Then the Narrative is Trump is willing to talk to a ruthless dictator and he supports said dictators actions.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
The White House incumbent goes Cuckoo day One to Two in very unexpected way with uncalled for Tweets than getting on with his job. And the Tax Plan now being cooked up is a harbinger totally ignoring the Middle Class.
On Cars Trump does not know how a car works or where it is produced so calling German cars bad by Trump is really an indication of little that he knows of anything. Germans makes the most prestigious and gorgeous looking cars and Engineering wise they are above all in the World. They cost lot more and are expensive to maintain compared to American or Japanese cars. American Car makers have improved a lot since last 4 years but the fact is they don’t last long nor retain their value say after 5 years whereas the Japanese cars do very well in this respect.
> I’m a Trump supporter myself and I’m just as tired of the crap that non supporters spout out (pretty much everyday).
I voted for neither. As far as I’m concerned, it’s fitting that the mascots used to represent Democrats and Republicans are animals which consume LOTS of taxpayer resources while leaving LOTS of road apples behind for the taxpayers to clean up.
In the meantime, I’m thoroughly enjoying the supporters of both parties go at each other like a couple of middle-school cliques.
Not my President. Trump is a cuck.
Yes obviously a cuck, at least the president isnt the wife of a pedofile and rapist. I’ve not seen this level of butthurt snowflakes since Bush. Enjoy it, it wont last ;)
pdog,
Even though your comment is crude and childlike, adults and true Americans can accept this as the definition of free speech. Sadly, at the same time you only add to stereotype of the average trump supporter.
After all this is an automobile site not just a place to post ignorance. So try to post something about the article at hand.
I agree, German auto plants in this country provide a lot of jobs. I realize he mentioned sale of cars as part of the trade imbalance, but if you aren’t counting those built in the US, he might have a point…How many American manufactured/brand cars and trucks are being exported to Germany?
For BMW at least, the US plants are the world source for all the produced models. So a German (or Chinese, English, Saudi, etc.) X5 or X3 buyer is getting a US sourced vehicle.
I don’t see how it very bad, or bad at all. They are a German company making cars in Germany. They aren’t building them in Germany to save money. It is probably more expensive to make them in Germany, hence the switch to US manufacture. Maybe a point with VWs made in Mexico but I think both Ford and GM do it to a greater extent.
Quoting only the part you like doesn’t make your ridiculous assertion true, he’s talking about trade. American Manufacturered German cars aren’t shipped to Germany and then re-shipped back to America FYI.
With regard to current Sprinter and Metris van assembly in South Carolina, is Ford still “avoiding tariffs” by converting Transit Connect passenger vans into trucks at the East Coast port of entry? Does the US export chickens to Europe disguised as innocent tourists?
Ford could avoid the tariff by simply removing Connect drivetrains (once in the US) and putting them back in. Silly, I know, but Ford is simply paying the tariff for now. Or maybe drivetrains have to be shipped separately (as it happens with the Sprinter) but the whole thing is a little ridiculous.
“Mr Trump’s view of international trade: a patriotic contest in which countries strive to take each other’s jobs—or seize them back.
In Mr Trump’s view of the world, trade deals are adversarial and zero-sum. Other countries are rivals competing for the same spoils, not trading partners enjoying mutually beneficial exchange. His plans to scupper the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a deal painstakingly negotiated over ten years with 11 other countries around the Pacific Rim, tally with Mr Trump’s reading of history. Too often, he thinks, bad deals, like the North American Free-Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and China’s accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), have destroyed American jobs and created American losers.”
His statement on the issue does not convey a sense of comprehension or scrupulous-ity. If he were to base any of his positions on even a minimal factual foundation they could be vetted, supported/refuted and publicly debated. But I doubt we will get any more basis that what is presented here.
A 35% tariff on auto imports will boost domestic sales but the general implications on foreign trade relationships cannot be ignored. The damage, while indeterminable, is real. Our position of strength is based on being the hub of the world market. Open, free, fair and packed with eager consumers. We’ve labored for decades to arrange the market that way for our collective benefit.
On its face it looks like one more piece of the Trump Family Economy in which his unscrupulous acts of favor come at the price of expected personal reciprocity. Him personally advocating, which is seen here, is key for him and his kin to cash-in on the future benefit.
This thinking that trade is a zero-sum game bothers me immensely. It seems like older generations believe every deal is a win-lose proposition. Whereas younger generations tend to view business as mutually beneficial.
Well, younger people except for all the communists raised on liberal arts curriculum.
Well Trump is an old fart so he’s probably remembering when he was growing up and mercantilism was all the rage.
The USA became the global “powerhouse” that it is because of centrist open market free trade policies. Tariffs and subsequent trade wars will shift the financial power to countries like China. Destabilization of the USA and its former first world allies just benefits Russia and their 2nd world allies.
If GM, Ford, and Chrysler had produced a portfolio of well built and well-engineered cars between 1965 and 2005 the Germans would have never become more than a niche player in the US. I remember comparing the workmanship of my father’s 1978 BMW 530i with my grandfather’s 1978 Cadillac DeVille and it was amazing how sloppily the Cadillac was assembled with an interior full of obviously fake wood and cheap fake chrome. The alloy headed OHC fuel injected BMW was also a lot quicker, got 20+mpg versus 14 for the cast-iron carburated OHV Caddy V-8. On small cars Ford was pushing Pintos and Chevy pushed Vegas and Chevettes, while VW was making FWD FI Golfs. The Germans were far from perfect, but they were a lot better than US offerings until very recently, and rebuilding all that lost brand equity for US car brand is going to take many decades, especially outside the US.
Yep that’s basically it. The US seems to be kind of getting back into the fray (I’m thinking of halo cars like the Focus RS which is, erm…designed by Germans but you get the idea) but it needs to be a sustained effort and like you said a broad portfolio.
And this is what it comes down to. I was about to say that America should build better cars that Americans want to buy. Full stop. Period.
And really that’s not even the answer, the answer is… build cars Americans want to buy.
The Germans obviously do not build a ‘better’ car, they just build cars that Americans aspire to.
That’s it.
The Germans along with the Japanese and Koreans understand the US market better than the “American” companies.
Trump doesnt seem to understand that fundamental. If you need to fix “demand” with tariffs or whatever nonsense then you’re just propping up uncompetitive industries. You may as well gift cash to Ford GM FCA and look how that turned out.
The most amazing stuff comes out of this guy’s yap when the teleprompter’s off.
(Could it be that Americans buy lots of German luxury cars…because German luxury cars have been better than American ones for, gee, I dunno…40 years? Fifty, maybe? And I’m sure ol’ Donnie never once bought a German luxury car. Absolutely not. Not one single Benz has ever graced his garage. Not one. Bank on it.)
I get it. You can’t stand the man. A simple google search shows an SLR and a S600 in Donnie’s garage. I would also counter that German cars are better than American in what measure? Speed and handling? Generally your typical American luxury buyer is looking for plush and comfortable. I’d say a W222 has them on that but that’s one of our models.
Can I stand him? No. But there’s a long list of politicians I can’t stand. As long as they do their jobs, I’ll tolerate them.
This guy’s in WAY over his head.
Which he can’t drive, as Presidents are not allowed by Secret Service to drive on public roads….Obama had a cars and coffee with Seinfeld where he was pleased to drive, even if it was around the WH.
I recall my folks getting a BMW in the early 90’s. It was a bank vault, had the is engine, and handled like nothing out of detroit. The ABS brakes saved me when someone grew impatient and made a left turn in front of me in traffic.
Today, the gap between the Germans and American cars is much smaller. I enjoyed an ATS-V way way more than the last BMW I drove, an M2. No one thinks the Euro build is more reliable anymore, you aren’t comparing that BMW to an X car or K car…..
What is more interesting is that the Germans mostly make trucks over here. You just don’t see them in Europe, between gas prices and parking issues. They must save a lot of shipping.
Actually, before he became president, Trump brought plenty of Mercedes Maybach Limosines and the recently S600. He even owns a SLR McLaren. Are you trying to be sarcastic or serious.
He’s mimicking Trump’s manner of speech, so I’d say they’re diplomatically talking out of both sides of their mouth. Sarcasm for the liberals and serious bold-faced lies for the conservatives.
In any case, thank you for bringing things back to the topics that really matter: what’s in Trump’s garage and what story does it tell about him as a person.
I believe the Mercedes R-Class is built by AM General in Indiana and shipped to China. There was an interview on Autoline
http://www.autoblog.com/2015/01/27/mercedes-r-class-am-general-manufacturing-contract-official/
I wonder if they still build the R-class AMG. Craziest Mommy-car ever.
Just read a very good article in Bloomberg regarding Trump’s inane comments about so many German cars bought in the US vs (Trump’s view) so few US cars sold in Germany.
So, did he consider German Ford?
Why did Opel fail? Did he point a finger at Barra or Fields for the US companies poor performance in Germany.
Why did Trump buy a Ferarri and not a GT40?
What kind of fool is Trump?
So, what does the US mainly produce? Average to poor quality SUVs and pickups.
We have EcoThirst powered Expeditons where I’m currently working with a sprinkling of Ford’s F150 Vunder Trux. The locals only use new Patrols and Landcruiser wagons and 70 Series pickups. Tells you something.
Maybe, just maybe the US auto industry needs to restructure, from protectionist barriers to tariffs.
Harmonise and improve quality. Then maybe others will buy more US product. Compete.
What kind of fool is Trump? An amazingly incompetent fool. One who is the most unqualified person to ever hold the office of POTUS. Yet, his election proves how the mostly uneducated, mostly low information and NASCAR set of citizens can put such a cretin in office.
I’m sorry did you not live in America when a community organizer was elected president?
THAT’S the best you’ve got? There are adults talking here, try and not embarrass yourself here.
+1
8 years of a SCANDAL free administration – thanks President Obama!!
Apparently “Hummer” you were “off planet” during that time. Even your chosen avatar reeks of white male arrogance…and ignorance.
Scandal free? Hillary was part of the Obama regime. Just because Anderson Cooper didn’t read it to you, it doesn’t mean that Obama’s criminal enterprise didn’t routinely act outside the law and get slapped down by the Supreme Court. Was Fast and Furious enough of a scandal for you? How about IRS targeting? VA ineptness? Did you keep your doctor? I’m impressed that the left located your brain so they could wash it.
I agree completely with the first part of your comment, GoHuskers, but… well, if America ever undergoes a second civil war, condescending statements like your last sentence, about a sizable portion of the U.S. population, will probably be the reason why.
How are facts condescending? Calling attention to the truth is not a negative. Have you ever watched the Trump rallies?? Thugs. Old white men (and women) with white facial hair a la Santa Claus, T-shirts barely covering their 5 XL bellies, and blue jeans. Gun nut culture at its finest. And I say this being a white male.
Trump supporters also include my entire family, and none of them are poor, or uneducated. None of them have Zeke beards, or 5XL bellies. None of them are gun nuts.
You can build a bridge or burn it, GoHuskers.
Yet libtards wanted to vote for a person who was war monger, a person who deleted her emails because of the overwhelming scandals, a person who tried to race bait minorites, selected a goofball of a VP, a person who defended a child rapist, etc. Bitch was so corrupt it change my views in politics forever. I know Trump may not be perfect, but he has more high energy than Obummer and his 8 year regime (hell he has done more work during his first 100 days than Obama’s two terms). You guys want to slam down with me about some of these issue, I’m open for discussion.
Nice copy and paste from the mark levin show.
Guess if you can’t compete in a multinational society, just complain and call anyone with a rational thought a libtard.
@DEUSVULTbuddy – A quick google of “Clinton defending a child rapist” showed that she was assigned the case and despite protesting the appointment, she was not reassigned. As repugnant a case as it is, one is innocent until proven guilty.
I do agree that Clinton is as corrupt as most career politicians are but #foot-in-mouthpotus takes it to a whole new level.
Don’t parrot the Soros fronts posing as fact checkers or sources. Listen to the pig herself. She did it as a favor to the prosecutor, and she laughed about it later. Subhuman.
https://www. youtube .com/watch?v=e2f13f2awK4
Here’s the link, if you want the truth about the bullet we dodged.
Vulgar, obnoxious, and making incorrect assumptions….the TYPICAL Trump voter. You elderly fools are so predictable.
“Yet libtards wanted to vote for a person who was war monger, ”
it’s like you people have already forgotten about Dick Cheney.
+1
@BAFO – Do you think Europeans actually enjoy/prefer driving around crappy cars????
The German/European car market would look a lot different if it wasn’t for that *little* 10% tariff on import cars, 22% on import trucks/pickups, plus various technical barriers.
So who you callin’ “protectionists”?? If/when the US drops all tariffs on import vehicles, almost nothing would change in the car scene.
Don’t kid yourself, the US is by far the easiest (meaningful) market in the world in which to own an imported vehicle.
Obviously DiM the Germans don’t like their crappy Fords and GMs (Opel). It seems the other German brands they like more.
So, you are correct.
How can a Frod or GM compete in Germany. So it appears US manufacturers are not that competitive in the global market.
@BAFO – Junk that strives (let alone survives!) in Europe can only happen thanks EU protectionist policy. Why do you think Fiat and others similar (French cars) were sent packing (from the US market)??
Many Euro brands never bothered importing to the US. Europe is far more accepting of “(repair) garage queens”… Fix it again Tony???
If an import automaker doesn’t enter the EU market with a 1.2 liter diesel (or similar), compact/hatch, dirt cheap, what chance do they have? Niche status at best. Hopefully a cult following maybe.
DiM,
WTF? Wow, are you really that fncking stupid?
What tariffs are there on German made Fords and GMs?
The Opel brand IS (was) German.
You are a freak. That single brain cell you have must glow, or you are trolling, because your above responses are inane.
Work for Trump, you obviously have Trump Camp skillsets.
“What tariffs are there on German made Fords and GMs?”
2.5% for cars. Which would apply to the German-made Buick Regal, Focus RS, and the Spanish-made Transit Connect (passenger version.)
Wouldn’t you say Ford/GMs made in Europe to European spec happen that way for the little “protection” thing we were talking about? Try to keep up, goof. Could crappy, unreliable Euro cars happen otherwise?
JimZ,
The 2.5% levy is placed on all vehicles sold in Germany.
So it is a tax, not a tariff.
A tariff is a levy that is selective in its target, ie, Chicken Tax.
Now, the chicken tax should be on ALL pickups sold in the US so it would become a tax and not a tariff.
Simple.
The way to do this subtract the cars you import form the ones you export.
I’m not 100% sold on import tariffs , but I have no problem with 5%. 34% you need to be careful, as you exports to that country my end.
Check that picture. So ironic. VW was organized by German “Labour Front”, which was “National Socialist trade union”. Robert Ley was their boss and ardent Nazi. Nazis didn’t consider blacks as humans. And now this dude works for them.
Trump’s power lies in his magnetic ability to draw attention via broad hyperbole. It doesn’t matter if he says something true, false, stupid, wrong, irresponsible or immature. He tweets or mouths off, everyone takes notice, everyone reacts.
When he says stuff like this, I believe he is simply trying to plant an idea. In this case, he is just putting pressure on Germany because he (and Putin) wants the EU dismantled.
@LeMansteve – he is good at causing trouble. His/Putin’s attempt to undermine NATO and the EU appear to be having the opposite affect. NATO/EU have realized that #foot-in-mouthpotus is highly unreliable which has them (NATO/EU) more willing to work together and increase military spending.
You may think of trump as an idiot, but Germany does have a problem with trade. Without the problems of the EU, the euro would have a much higher value, and exports out of Germany would be much more expensive. Germany now enjoys high productivity and a cheap currency, making it difficult for other countries to compete. If it isn’t trump, someone else will eventually look at germanys huge trade surplus and decide to do something about it. Given the fact that they have an export dependent economy, German could be in big trouble when this happens…..
See, deanst, that’s a valid point. And you know what? If Trump had said your post verbatim, I’d listen, and maybe I’d even agree to some extent.
But I’m not listening to “The Germans are bad, bad, terrible.” Or “bad hombres.” Or “I’m gonna build the wall and make Mexico pay for it.” And that’s the problem with this guy – it’s all dumbed-down rhetorical nonsense, like you’d hear from an Internet board troll. As a result, anyone who isn’t in 100% ideological lockstep with the guy tunes him out. And then he (and the people who are 100% in ideological lockstep with him) wonder why no one who wasn’t originally on the Trump train isn’t climbing on now. Well, duh, guys…maybe if the guy didn’t spend half his time saying stupid crap, and the other half blaming everyone else for calling him on saying that stupid crap, he might gain some political momentum.
As with most of Trump’s problems, this one’s of his own making. He’s clearly intelligent enough to make his points to someone who doesn’t already agree with him. Instead, he just spouts off at the mouth, and expects everyone to nod their heads automatically. That isn’t how it works. Either that’s a function of a) his business career, where no one ever got a word in edgewise, or b) his lack of political experience. I hope it’s b).
Yeah, the Euro has a big problem with some of the most productive regions in the world and some of the least productive regions in the world sharing a single currency making the currency too cheap while making it simultaneously too expensive.
US states are similar.
There are expensive states, ie, California and much cheaper states, Alabama.
Germany is actually not the most expensive state within the EU. Sweden is more expensive and proportionally the Swedes export lots of vehicles.
I think the US needs to look at how regulatory controls, ie, taxes, design regs, even energy policy promotes large vehicles. Unfortunately most of the world has a limited market for large vehicles.
To top this off the US vehicle market is becoming smaller proportionally every day. Within a decade it will represent 10% of this market.
So, it appears the US needs to change, not the 90%.
Yes MBUSI exists and you should all check out the visitor center if you’re in the area. That said tax incentives and non union factories play a role in the existence of MBUSI and other foreign plants. When carrier was offered similar incentives to save jobs people complained. It seems like everything Donald Trump does is presented as bad by a scorned majority of the media. It’s seems like since Bush everything became a blue vs red scenario there’s no in between for some people and unfortunately life is not that simple.
OK, let’s say for argument’s sake that the press is a bunch of whiners when it comes to Trump. The only question, then, is how to minimize the whining. Now, which Trump statement gives them more whiny ammo?
1) “The Germans are bad, bad. Terrible. And too many rich folks drive a Mercedes.”
2) “We’d like to see a trade agreement that enables more American cars to be sold in Germany.”
His points aren’t stupid or invalid, but he makes them sound that way.
Trump can barely read someone else’s words via a teleprompter without sounding dumb. On his own he proves your point.
You do realize that first quote is an alleged qoute, albeit consistent with Trump’s speech patterns. The fact is alleged happening and anonymous sources are invalid for a Junior high term paper or even Wikipedia for that matter. Yet most of the negative articles about Trump have relied heavily on unverifiable claims.
“Alleged quote”?
Ok, let’s go with that. He never said this.
Problem is, he’s made so many *verified* stupid statements that it’s no surprise when the alleged ones sound just as stupid.
Again…this problem is of his making. If you really support the guy, then do us all a favor: write him, and urge him to keep his tongue in check. We’ll all be the better for it.
@FreedMike – “write him, and urge him to keep his tongue in check”
Never happen.
Just like he “never” told the Russians top secret information and then in Israel he said, ““Just so you understand, I never mentioned the word or the name Israel,” Trump told reporters. “Never mentioned it during that conversation. They’re all saying I did, so you have another story wrong. Never mentioned the word Israel.”
And keeping on that meme, He says,
“He’s “done an incredible job,” President Trump said gesturing to Sec. Tillerson, seated to his right, “we just got back from the Middle East, from Saudi Arabia.”
The Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer face-palmed in utter disbelief.
There may be no direct evidence that #foot-in-mouthpotus said, “The Germans are bad, really bad,” “Look at the millions of cars they sell in the US. It’s terrible. We’ll put a stop to that.” *but* there is a clear pattern of abject ignorance at play.
Even the pope reacted to him like he had received a colonoscopy sans anesthesia.
I see the videos of the fool Trump, and have ears and a brain. Any idiot can see that this fraudster is in over his head….orange dye and all!
“It seems like everything Donald Trump does is presented as bad by a scorned majority of the media.”
It would help if Trump did less bad things.
Seriously, lets be honest and clear here. Trump’s statement was bad. It was patently hypocritical, completely rude, and grossly inarticulate. Its hypocritical because Trump drives mostly german luxury cars. Its rude because going over on a state visit and then shitting on your hosts is rude. Especially keeping in mind that Germany is a key US ally. And i really shouldn’tneed to explain why “Germany is very, very bad” is inarticulate. Its like the dumbest way that the drunken idiot at the bar would describe a complicated global trade issue.
The best one can say is that the statement was bad because he mispoke. Or that they are bad because he is trying some crafty scheme to strongarm Germany into a new trade deal. But we need ti stop lying to ourselves and acknowledge that it is, incredibly bad for a presudent to behave this way.
Again alleged ‘statement’ from a German magazine that’s been publishing anti trump articles for months.
I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a trump supporter. I didn’t vote and my states electoral votes went to hillary. That said on writing to Trump I highly doubt the man reads anything other than twitter these days and I don’t have an account.
Trump continues to demonstrate that he has foot-in-mouth disease. The Germans now play a vital part in the US auto industry. This is especially true when you consider the US automakers are almost completely reliant on German and Japanese machine tools and robotics. If you have noticed a profound improvement in the fit and finish of US cars, remember German precision machine tooling is responsible. I am not even sure the US has a viable machine tool industry anymore.
Maybe Trump should concentrate on revitalizing the US machine tool industry instead of talking about “evil” German cars talking over America.
May be US had had outsourced everything to other countries but Americans are great consumers and only that matters. I mean Chinese, Germans and Japanese are working hard to satisfy American customers and China providing loans – it is the envious position to be in. Who cares about robotics and tools – it is not sexy. The whole world only exist to serve Americans. US is in the same position today as the Roman empire was in the past – the most powerful military, providing peace and world order, protecting other countries and being at the center of the world.
You are calling Americans parasites.
But Americans also protect other territories. I would call it protectorates. US should assign prefects to all its territories in Western and Eastern Europe and in Asia, it just makes sense to formalize relationships. BTW Europeans should pay tax for protection.
What happened to Rome again?
Did you hear about second and third Rome? I would call US the fourth Rome. Russia btw is the one of pretenders.
Isn’t the actual quote something like this?
“the Germans are a proud people and what’s happening to them because of the wave of Muslim immigrants is bad, very bad.” “they have a vibrant economy that helps the entire world- just look at the millions of cars they sell in the U.S. But it’s terrible what’s happening to their people. We’re going to help them stop that.”
“This is especially true when you consider the US automakers are almost completely reliant on German and Japanese machine tools and robotics.”
This. Precisely. I would also add chemistry and automotive grade semiconductors.
The automobile industry is at the forefront of this trend, but absolutely every single industrial process requires them.
“The Germans are bad, very bad,” Der Spiegel cited Trump as saying to unidentified participants at a closed-door meeting Thursday with European Union officials in Brussels.”
Unidentified participants at a closed door meeting. More non-verified anonymous sources. Pretty much the definition of fake news……
More fake news for ya………..
“Just like he “never” told the Russians top secret information and then in Israel he said, ““Just so you understand, I never mentioned the word or the name Israel,” Trump told reporters. “Never mentioned it during that conversation. They’re all saying I did, so you have another story wrong. Never mentioned the word Israel.”
And keeping on that meme, He says,
“He’s “done an incredible job,” President Trump said gesturing to Sec. Tillerson, seated to his right, “we just got back from the Middle East, from Saudi Arabia.”
The Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer face-palmed in utter disbelief.
There may be no direct evidence that #foot-in-mouthpotus said, “The Germans are bad, really bad,” “Look at the millions of cars they sell in the US. It’s terrible. We’ll put a stop to that.” *but* there is a clear pattern of abject ignorance at play.
Even the pope reacted to him like he had received a colonoscopy sans anesthesia.
““Just like he “never” told the Russians top secret information”
Yup, that was completely discredited. The original story was he “leaked” sources, the folks who were actually in the room said it never happened. Another “anonymous” source.
BTW, the President is the ultimate classification authority. It’s called intelligence sharing and every President has done it. It’s only a story when liberals like you think it can be used to bash Trump.
You should get a new hobby, being obsessed with Trump must be exhausting. Though I look forward to your head exploding in 202when he is reelected.
@markf – when exactly is “202”?
“discredited”
When did that happen?
If that was the case why did he say, “Never mentioned it during that conversation. They’re all saying I did, so you have another story wrong. Never mentioned the word Israel.”
“BTW, the President is the ultimate classification authority.”
OMG……WTF?
Ha ha ha ha ha ha
2020, my mistake
““BTW, the President is the ultimate classification authority.”
OMG……WTF?
Ha ha ha ha ha ha”
Yes, your smugness and ignorance know no bounds. The President can decide what to share and can De-classify whatever he wants because he is the ultimate classification authority. 5 mins of Google would probably have cleared that up for you but you are more interested in trying to make yourself look clever than in actually understanding anything.
The President can’t “leak” or give away secrets because they are ultimately his secrets and he has the authority to decide what to do with them.
Of course liberals like you, who only know snark can be bothered with actual facts……
“discredited”
When did that happen?
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/mcmaster-on-wapo-report-i-was-in-the-room-it-didnt-happen/
McMaster said, “The story that came out tonight as reported is false.”
“He said Trump and the Russian foreign minister went over a “range of common threats,” but added, “At no time were intelligence sources or methods discussed. And the president did not disclose any military operations that were not already publicly known.”
@markF – you mean this:
“McMaster spoke for less than a minute, didn’t take questions, and didn’t really deny the substance of the Post’s story, instead saying that the president had not divulged sources and methods to the Russians—an allegation not made in the story. McMaster said the story “as reported is false.”
On Tuesday morning, Trump himself tweeted a tacit confirmation of the Post’s scoop, saying he had the “absolute right” as president to share the information with Russia.”
Focus on this:
“had not divulged sources and methods to the Russians”
BUT HE DID IN ISRAEL:
” “Never mentioned it during that conversation. They’re all saying I did, so you have another story wrong. Never mentioned the word Israel.”
“The President can’t “leak” or give away secrets because they are ultimately his secrets and he has the authority to decide what to do with them.”
I did not use the word “leak”.
I said,”told the Russians top secret information”
Just because legally he can do it does not make it A-N-Y L-E-S-S S-T-U-P-I-D.
You are saying that #putinspotus has the legal right to sell out the USA to the Russians.
“Yes, your smugness and ignorance know no bounds.”
I’m using #putinspotus as a benchmark so I got a ways to go just to catch up!
Hard to take anyone seriously who uses the term “putinspotus”
Hillary lost, get over it, move on with your life.
@Markf – “Hard to take anyone seriously who uses the term “putinspotus”
The FBI and CIA take it seriously and so does Former FBI director Robert Mueller who has been appointed to lead the Trump-Russia inquiry.
*AND*
You do keep responding to my posts………… on the subject of living rent free inside someone’s head!
LOL
“Peach” be with you.
Lou,
I think pear is a better fruit when discussing the POTUS.
Will Trump be im”peached” because he’s im”peared”.
Germany has just about everything better than the US, albeit usually more costly. Now even the political system seems to be a lot better.
America destroyed its manufacturing, going from the world’s biggest manufacturer, manufacturer of some of the best products in the world to an also-ran. It was destroyed by mostly its companies moving production offshore and it was overtaken by countries with sound industrial policies like Korea, Japan, China, Germany. In US of course it’s a heresy to say that a country should have an industrial policy, it goes against all Republican and Democratic dogmas. Yet if one puts ones dogmas/preconceptions away and just looks at the evidence, it’s very clear that China didn’t become world’s manufacturing hub because it followed laissez-faire capitalism. It became what it is because it setup specific policies and then followed them.
Alas, drumpf; doesn’t look like a person (all orange and yellow), doesn’t speak like a person (makes noises that seem to resemble words but actually don’t convey anything meaningful), doesn’t act like a person. I believe he is a Russian cyborg (first generation alfa version) implanted in America to bring it down from the inside by fooling all the idiots, racists, misogynists and old people by making them believe that he is actually human.
More alternative facts from our fake president.
I don’t think he distributes fake news.
I really believe he’s not intelligent. He probably thinks Hogan’s Heroes was a WWII documentary and Get Smart is a documentary about the CIA.
No thinking person wants the headaches and repair bills associated with German cars.
How can the Germans respect a company like GM that cuts and runs from Europe? The US automakers have lost all credibility around the globe.
Germany and Japan simply have a better auto industry than the US.
Case closed.
I come here to get away from the whole #45 thing..I just want to find a way to return the favor to the Heartland that gave him to us….but most won’t connect the dots that he’ll do zero for them. Personally, I’d take my Blue states, Secede from the Union, and the Red states (who are net consumers of Blue State Federal Money) can look elsewhere for something to subsidize them, along with their 1950’s social policy.
The cars they make here are cars they sell here. Each car on the list sells well in the US, but has limited to no presence in Europe. The X5 is rare in Germany…as is the Q7, or the huge Mercedes. Different markets for different cars…They save a lot of shipping. The Germans also use the US market like we use Mexico, to scare the home Union into seeing the assembly can be done cheaper “over there”. A review of worldwide car makers shows the smart ones all do this, not sell elsewhere and wonder why things don’t sell “out there”. We don’t get a five door one series…Toyota builds big trucks for us…now even VW does…and brown manual diesel wagons only sell on this board.
Trump betrays his east coast perceptions…German cars are very common in NYC, but not so much elsewhere.
Please, editors, no Trump on my car boards…these comments read like Zero Hedge without the tiresome antisemitism.
All of the BMW ‘X’ vehicles (X3, X4, X5, X6 and upcoming X7) for the entire world are built in Spartanburg, South Carolina. They refer to it informally as the “X Plant”.