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Losing any of the Big Three and Toyota loses parts suppliers - customers (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28241203/)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/LogoToyota.gifAP - Dec. 16, 2008

More of a relationship than meets the eye -- Ed

Tokyo - In recent years, Toyota has edged closer to overtaking General Motors as the world's biggest automaker.
But now as GM and the entire U.S. auto industry teeter on the brink of collapse, Toyota and other Japanese carmakers are hardly rejoicing. They say the bankruptcy of any of Detroit's Big Three would spell serious trouble for them as well.

Should that happen, "the damage to our business is certain to be tremendous," Toyota Motor Corp. spokesman Hideaki Homma told The Associated Press on Monday. "The conditions for the U.S. auto market are extremely tough right now, and any additional negative is sure to make things worse."… http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28241203/

In the light of what the Japanese automakers have said about parts manufacturers going bust hurting their business I wonder if the 'let them die' mantra is looking a bit foolish right now.

Maybe Toyota can come up with some bailout money for GM.

Maybe they could buy a factory or two. That's a little tough to do when no one is buying cars from anyone.

Harry

The Big 3 aren't going to die, if anything they will just restructure after filing Chap 11. Everyone talks as if the Big 3 will just disappear if they don't get some Bailout money.

The Big Three make cars in other countries. Those aren't going away anytime soon.

The Big 3 aren't going to die, if anything they will just restructure after filing Chap 11. Everyone talks as if the Big 3 will just disappear if they don't get some Bailout money.

And either way we're going to be paying lots of money to them (http://www.forbes.com/intelligentinvesting/2008/12/08/intelligent-investing-autos-GM-Ford-panelDec8.html, near the bottom of page 1). Don't think that bankruptcy is somehow going to cost taxpayers less.