Black Eye?
A story from AutoWeek (of which I am a subscriber), talking about the recently-launched NHTSA investigation of the electronic throttle module on various '99-'01 models.
I mention the story only because it's one of those examples the media tending to overstate things for the sake of ginning up controversy. The headline of the article--"Volvo's safety image suffers black eye as NHTSA investigates electronic throttle module issues"--which sounds terrible, is dampened in the article to "Volvo's safety image suffered a minor black eye last week." Make up your mind, folks--it's either bad or not.
And by what measure is this a black eye for the company's image? It is reported as though this is a common feeling, but is it really more just the opinion of the writer? Some kind of lightly disguised schadenfreude? Has Volvo suffered any dropoff of confidence? Of sales? Well, it's not reported, so it's hard to say exactly what effect it might have had, or will have in the future. If it has no effect, or if the company fixes whatever problem is uncovered quickly and to the satisfaction of owners, does that do them irreparable harm? Well, it would be nice to know, but that's just not in the story.
In the end, it's worth remembering that ALL vehicle manufacturers have problems, because every single car made is the product of human thought and effort. Things will always go wrong, and the truest test of how serious the company is, is how the error or fault is corrected. And at this point, it's hard to say the company isn't doing what it should--time will tell.
I mention the story only because it's one of those examples the media tending to overstate things for the sake of ginning up controversy. The headline of the article--"Volvo's safety image suffers black eye as NHTSA investigates electronic throttle module issues"--which sounds terrible, is dampened in the article to "Volvo's safety image suffered a minor black eye last week." Make up your mind, folks--it's either bad or not.
And by what measure is this a black eye for the company's image? It is reported as though this is a common feeling, but is it really more just the opinion of the writer? Some kind of lightly disguised schadenfreude? Has Volvo suffered any dropoff of confidence? Of sales? Well, it's not reported, so it's hard to say exactly what effect it might have had, or will have in the future. If it has no effect, or if the company fixes whatever problem is uncovered quickly and to the satisfaction of owners, does that do them irreparable harm? Well, it would be nice to know, but that's just not in the story.
In the end, it's worth remembering that ALL vehicle manufacturers have problems, because every single car made is the product of human thought and effort. Things will always go wrong, and the truest test of how serious the company is, is how the error or fault is corrected. And at this point, it's hard to say the company isn't doing what it should--time will tell.
posted by Terry at 8/09/2005 08:24:00 AM
2 Comments:
The media? Blow something out of proportion? Shocked, I am shocked.
Personally, I think you just wanted to use the word schadenfreude in a blogpost.
Yes, I KNOW! I find it very difficult to believe as well! ::choke::chortle::
But yes, you are correct--I did want to use the word schadenfreude again. You can only use it so many times, and I've already used up my quota over on Possumblog.
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