The undelying issue here is that cars are changing from a collection of greasy bits that your local mechanics could service and mend to much less greasy bits coupled by electronics that even the factory doesnt understand. All made worse by incoming EU regulations that mean ECUs cannot be accessed by other than the engine maker.
The system works as long as there is a much greater reliability than used to be the case but if you have a manufacturer like MMC who is operating with limited skills in penny numbers you are heading for problems. Such manufacturer has to provide an expensive technical back up to the distributor.
Then you add in the problem of pricing and image. MMC have to charge ridiculously high prices for what they sell because of low volumes and crude manufacture, and that doesnt go with back street dealerships. OK Ferrari are far further up market but if you have never been into a Ferrari dealer, you need to visit one to get the upmarket experience. The feeling of something special. Price means that MMC need to climb that ladder.
All this is a long winded way of saying " how do you square penny number sales of a high priced product with expensive dealer back up and the need for a classy dealer image".
Good post Howard, interesting perspective
