If you want to solve one of the central mysteries of today's auto business, consider this tale of two cars: the Ford Taurus, built at plants in Atlanta and Chicago, and the Nissan Altima, made in Smyrna, Tenn. Neither vehicle is fancy; they're mainstream sedans for buyers on a budget. Both sell well. But when you talk about profit, the Taurus wobbles off the road. Ford must entice Taurus buyers with rebate offers and financing deals that slice 13%, or roughly $3,000, off the sticker price. After allowing for dealer profits, that leaves a negative return for Ford. The Altima, meanwhile,...
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