by Elexis Marie

Created on: January 20, 2009   Last Updated: May 03, 2009

The question of whether or not the Japanese car companies, in their new monopolistic glory, would foist hybrids alone on the American consumer is a bit off the mark. Should the Big 3 go under tomorrow, Honda, Toyota, et al; would not discontinue all models of their "standard" cars and sell exclusively expensive and only marginally more ecological hybrids.

These companies have too must business sense to make such a jump. In the wake of the collapse of the American-based auto industry, the board of directors of Japanese auto companies would not discount the very reason the Big 3 failed - that is, the total lack of funds to purchase expensive automobiles in the US. If consumers across the country could barely scrape together enough funds to purchase a $15,000 car, why would the Japanese auto makers assume they would suddenly have enough to purchase a $25,000 hybrid? Shortly put, they wouldn't.

The Japanese companies have a long history of providing what consumers want. While, after a hypothetical collapse, we would possibly see an increase in hybrid models for sale, this wouldn't be a result of any underhanded techniques to force us into a green-car era. Rather, it would be a direct result of the Japanese manufacturers making the desired product available.

While the number of hybrids would increase, there would, quite possibly, also be an increase in the availability of so called "economy cars". In our current economy, people want either efficient or inexpensive (or both). Models such as the Honda Fit, Toyota Matrix and Chevy Aveo have become increasingly popular due to their relative fuel efficiency and low price tags. Unfortunately for Chevy, and one of the many reasons they are at risk of collapse, Honda and Toyota did a better job creating a vehicle for that market segment.

Between a suffering economy, poor response to consumer demands and a long standing history of poor financial decisions, the Big 3 have backed themselves into a financial corner. If all three members of the Big 3, or even just a single company, were to fail, their competitors would not just rest assured in their new found market segment. If they did that, they would run the risk of following in the Big 3's footsteps and becoming just another name on the list of companies this economy has crippled. Decades of smart business decisions and throngs of local customers tells us that the Japanese are just too smart for that kind of rash move.

And if I'm wrong, and in some not-so-distant future Honda and Toyota sell only hybrids, it won't be long before consumers abandon them and they begin begging the government for a bailout of their own.

Learn more about this author, Elexis Marie.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.