[MagicRat]

While I agree with the sentiments, this is not a particularly helpful trend.

For decades, Fiat has produced absolutely terrrible cars (although they seem better now). Why? Because their home market, Italy, was heavily protected. Foreign makers faced tarrifs, and import limits, making their cars more expensive and rare than Fiats. Fiat got lazy and complacent. Their cars sold well at home because their government kept out any meainingful competition. So they could make money building unreliable junk.

The decline of the US auto industry over the past 30 years has been complicated. But one main reason was the US and Canadian domestic makers relied too heavily on loyal buyers, instead of making truly competitive products. They are paying the price for their complacency now.

The US and Canada are very open, free auto markets. Many European makes have shown they cannot compete in this market, including Fiat, Renault, Peugeot, Citroen, and almost everything from the UK.

These makers rely in part on domestic, protected markets, or have failed entirely.

The US and Canadian markets foster the best makers to prosper. Several European makers now make excellent products that you and your friends enjoy, in part because of their ability to exploit the free US marketplace.