Missteps? Disaster is a better word

Regarding “Toyota ends GM’s reign as car sales leader,” April 25:

Toyota Motor Corp. beats General Motors Corp. in world sales for the first time because of “missteps by the U.S.-based automakers.” Are you kidding? Management disasters is more like it.

Roger Smith -- chief executive, 1981-90, infamous in Michael Moore’s movie “Roger & Me” -- reorganizes GM and destroys individual brands. More recent CEOs kept building huge sport utility vehicles (the only area of profit), expanding the fleet right off a cliff, after dumping electric vehicles.

Missteps? I would laugh, but I can’t stop crying.

DOUG STELLE

San Clemente

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The No. 1 enemy of U.S. carmakers is a Wall Street that demands maximum short-term profit, forcing the companies to cut corners on product quality and to slash funds for research and development.

Japan, where long-term capital value is prized, allows its carmakers to pursue a market share strategy that in the long run will give them both maximum sales and maximum profit.

The No. 2 enemy of U.S. carmakers is a Congress that has repeatedly let them off the hook on pollution controls, the search for which would have driven fuel economy.

JOHN F. ROSSMANN

Tustin