I know it is the case for both French car companies and Volvo -- meaning the influence of financiers over the company decisions is stronger than any engineer: CEO track, risk assessement is about liability not engineering excellence. Most Japanese and Korean companies are better seen as a conglomerates (zaibatsu). I've heard similar stories for US companies, but I don't personally know anyone working for them. It is indeed not the case for German brands, were the engineering excellence still matters. Tata is a large group that works far beyond cars: they handle personal finance, pharmaceuticals, etc. Your link is specifically about the car company, Tata Motors.
The OP isn't talking about profit vs loss financial management, they are referring to the practice of US manufactures of offering finance packages to purchase a car.
These finance packages are quite lucrative in the US market, and for many US manufacturers are more profitable than manufacturing.
(The suicide referred to was an executive of Tata Motors)
