Yeah, but they're all big companies with corporate infrastructures now:
Honda, Renault, Mercedes, Toyota, and even Ferrari (Fiat).
Still different operations though - the car constructors are all in
England, where the pool of tech skills is, and run as separate operations,
with budgets largely determined by sponsor money. Yes, Toyota is in
Germany but with a large contingent of "imported" people from the British
pool (not all Brits in fact) -- and previously a couple of dishonest
Italians
-- to do the job. I assume you've noticed that, despite huge
budgets, Toyota's efforts are not umm, paying off.
McLaren is 40% owned by M-B who is apparently considering 100% ownership;
then again the results are not good as it is and can only get worse. They
had the two best drivers in the field - the car is a dud.
As for Ferrari, I believe it was spun back off a coupla years back to
prevent it being dragged down by the Fiat disaster... and it *is* being
managed by a Brit from the "pool" who has had spectacularly consistent
success in that role over the years. I've often thought the car should be
called a Brawnacher.
However, I thought you were going to single BMW out as a company with a
particularly bad corporate culture? I personally would never buy a BMW,
or any German car, or any European car for that matter. I've only
bought North American or Japanese cars, so far (I might consider South
Korean too, though it hasn't happened yet). North American cars may not
be high-quality, but at least the parts are cheap. Japanese cars, we
all know about them. European cars have way too many gremlins, wierd
little problems that are annoying and cost way too much to diagnose and
fix, they're especially noticeable in a cold climate like Canada. I
liken European cars to road jewelry: they look great, but they're
fragile.
No, I wasn't singling BMW out, in particular, though I believe Theissen is
in way over his head; like I already said: fartin' higher than his ass.
We'll see if they keep Hinwil as a separate location but if they couldn't
make it with Williams, I don't see how things can get better - there's the
triple whammy of corporate rule, Theissens' ego and a limited pool of
skills.
As for cars, I used to buy VWs, until they lost their way. Now I buy
Hondas, though the most dependable, but boring, car I've owned was a
Toyota. I like to do my own maintenance so a single make is useful. Honda
& Toyota, and to a certain extent Nissan, have shown that good cars can be
made in N. America with substantial American design input; the formula is
simple: cautious innovation and most importantly, attention to detail...
the only Japanese "secret". From what I've seen & heard, the biggest
impediment to mfr of "good" American cars is UAW... who, in the strangest
policy I've ever heard, are allowed to veto "attention to detail".
