What's wrong with the N.A. Auto Industry, hmmmmm...TONS!
Today's consumer is alot different the last decade then it was 25-50 years ago. We are in the information age, word of mouth is not just what your neighbour or co-worker has to say anymore. The internet has made searching for a vehicle and finding vehicle reviews and consumer ratings at the click of a mouse. What this boils down to; is consumer loyalty.
I have owned 4 vehicles in the last 15 years. Of those 4 vehicles, one was a domestic, a 1987 Ford Tauras. This was my first vehicle and the last Ford I will ever buy. Since I've owned a Toyota Corrolla, Honda Civic SiR and currently own an Infinity QX4. I don't think all of these import vehicle's combined have cost me as much in maintenance/repairs as that one Ford Tauras did.
My point, N.A. manufacturers will continue to lose money in N.A. because there business model is not constructed around the consumer. Someone nailed it on the head in an earlier reply; N.A. manufacturer's have only a few staple models, they are constantly renaming a model or making a new model vehicle. Look at Honda, Toyota and Nissan - all three have at least two main 4 cyclinder cars and one or two main SUV/trucks and they don't change or rename these main vehicles; they continue to improve them.
I honestly believe that N.A. manufacturer's build vehicle's that are designed to fail the consumer after x amount of km's. That's just my belief but from my experience, I will never own a domestic vehicle the rest of my life (unless given to me or won, lol!).
I won't get into my opinion on Buzz or unions, that's for another day......