I'm going to have to disagree. EVs are still niche vehicles. Hybrids are unfortunately also niches. I can't jump to a conclusion that based on your points, the Detroit (Big 3) are in trouble.
Have you ever looked into Tesla's financials? Have you watched http://www.bloomberg.com/video/73460184/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and seen how much money Elon Musk poured into his company as it was struggling, prior to the IPO?
Not everyone buys cars based on economics/payback/being the cheapest period. If so, we'd all be driving cars like Kia Rios or the most stripped down Nissan Versa (price has gone up a bit from the version at http://www.caranddriver.com/features/2009-nissan-versa-16-base" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; w/a newer generation). Most of us here (esp. those who actually own Leafs or are seriously considering one) would fall under the category of early adopter. Yeah yeah, I know EVs from major automakers have come before the Leaf.
Have you taken a look at US auto sales figures like http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/01/october-2011-pillowcases-of-candy-edition/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; before? From http://investor.gm.com/sales-production/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, here were GM's figures last month: http://media.gm.com/content/dam/Media/gmcom/investor/2011/DeliveriesOct2011.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. For the month before, look at http://investor.gm.com/sales-production/docs/sales_prod/11_09/DeliveriesSeptember2011.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and see how much monstrosity class (full-sized) SUV sales rose such as the Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon, etc. (Related story for that month http://money.cnn.com/2011/10/03/autos/september_auto_sales/index.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false
.
Here's Ford: http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=35516" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and http://media.ford.com/images/10031/Oct11sales.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.
Nissan: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nissan-north-america-reports-18-increase-in-october-sales-133008533.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - look at the Leaf sales
Look at Leaf sales at http://www.hybridcars.com/news/october-2011-dashboard-hybrids-have-best-sales-march-31926.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; vs. the rest of the vehicles there.
Take a look at the graphics on the left side of http://www.examiner.com/cars-in-national/top-20-best-selling-cars-of-october-2011" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and http://www.examiner.com/cars-in-national/best-selling-cars-of-october-2011-by-class" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; or just http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2011/11/top-10-best-selling-cars-october-2011.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.
http://online.wsj.com/mdc/public/page/2_3022-autosales.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; has more data.
Even if Leaf production in Smyrna were to go online tomorrow and could pump out 200K Leafs/year and there were somehow demand for that many in the US (per http://www.hybridcars.com/hybrid-clean-diesel-sales-dashboard/december-2010.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, 140.9K Priuses sold last year in the US), that's against sales of 11.6 million light vehicles last year (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/business/05auto.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; w/more details at http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/04/by-the-numbers-2010-the-year-after-that-really-bad-year-editi/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false
.
Then you have poll results like http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/17/only-4-of-consumers-likely-to-be-satisfied-with-todays-electri/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and http://green.autoblog.com/2011/05/31/gallup-poll-shows-57-of-americans-wont-buy-an-electric-vehicle/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.
There are already enough myths and junk science floating around about hybrids (that still refuses to die) as it is that just turns people away from hybrids. Most of these "issues" carryover to EVs (in those people's minds).
As a Prius enthusiast, we hear all the myths all the time (the influx of misinformed trolls has slowed down considerably though). On other message boards, I and others have a hard enough time convincing people to buy the midsized Prius (which starts at ~$23K) that has no range limit or other hybrids, as it is. You think those same people will be willing to spend more on an EV w/limited range and not knowing squat about charging, infrastructure, etc. while possessing a whole bunch of FUD?
It will be interesting to see how well (or not well) the plug-in Prius is accepted.
Also, now China has become the world's largest auto market. GM I believe has number 1 share there given stories like http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-28/gm-keeps-top-china-overseas-sales-rank.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. The numbers at http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/07/us-gm-china-idUSTRE7A612D20111107" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; might be insightful.