Article at a glance:

North American auto suppliers: Beyond the Big Three

US automotive suppliers want to broaden their customer base beyond the Big Three automakers. But a survey suggests that they may not be able to back up their words with action. While most are confident of their innovation skills and technology, they are less sure about their cost efficiency and the ability of their marketing talent to win over new customers.

The take-away

US auto suppliers that can't bring their costs into line with the value they offer—or provide hard data to substantiate what they believe to be a superior value proposition—may be forced to exit the industry.