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Can GM make Cadillac the standard of the world Again?

6098 messages,  Last post on Aug 14, 2009 at 4:43 PM

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What is this discussion about? Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac XLR, Cadillac STS, Automotive News


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#1836 of 6098
Re: Let's Look at the Lexus Story [fintail] by louiswei
Jan 14, 2007 (12:15 pm)
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Replying to: fintail (Jan 14, 2007 12:09 pm)

That's an area where GM sorely needs work - marketing and promotion.
 
Really?
 
Silverado's "This is our country" seems pretty good to me...
#1837 of 6098
Re: Let's Look at the Lexus Story [louiswei] by fintail
Jan 14, 2007 (12:46 pm)
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Replying to: louiswei (Jan 14, 2007 12:15 pm)

That demographic is the only one GM has been able to effectively hit.
#1838 of 6098
Re: ... [louiswei] by nvbanker
Jan 14, 2007 (12:54 pm)
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Replying to: louiswei (Jan 14, 2007 12:04 pm)

Until Buick makes Lucerne RWD (or at least AWD) and upgrades its interior severely I don't see it challenging any luxury brand models, nevertheless the LS460.
  
However, I see Lucerne as a formidable opponent to models such as Toyota Avalon, Nissan Maxima and Hyundai Azera.

 
You hit the sweet spot here - exactly right....
#1839 of 6098
GM's marketing by imidazol97
Jan 14, 2007 (1:01 pm)
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The marketing in the commercials and overall advertising needs to be improved from my viewpoint. The precision of hitting an exact unfulfilled market point with both product and with advertising (image) is difficult.
 
The concept from some is that GM needs to have something to directly compete with a certain automobile that they themselves think is great from another company. But GM needs to do what was successful for the 3 imports in the 80s and 90s: fill a niche that's not being satisfied and make an image. GM will never make someone happy who expects them to compete with the ABC company's sporty driver, high maintenance racemobile; but GM can make a car to slice off a part of that market that's not filled with people total enamoured of that particular car. That's what Lexus did.
 
I.e., build a Civic price and demographic competitor but don't try to be a Civic because you'll never make that Civic-preferring customer happy. But then you have to keep the sales you do make happy and advertising for image needs to make them feel they're owning a quality product. The Cadillac (and Buick) part needs to be Lexused in image. How many people believe Lexus is a Toyota?
 
Question: Is Kia still connected to GM?
#1840 of 6098
Re: GM's marketing [imidazol97] by louiswei
Jan 14, 2007 (1:17 pm)
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Replying to: imidazol97 (Jan 14, 2007 1:01 pm)

imidazol97, I have no problem when people call my Lexus a glorified Toyota because it is. Just like Acura is a glorified Honda and Infiniti a glorified Nissan. However, the key word here is "glorified". Toyota "glorified" Lexus so much that many people would forget that he/she is driving a Toyota. If GM is able (I think they are on the right track) to put same "glorify factor" into Cadillac then it should have no problem competing in the luxury market.
 
Kia is under Hyundai group and Daewoo is part of GM. I don't know if Kia was ever owned by GM but you could have mistaken Kia with Daewoo. BTW, Daewoo just took the number 2 selling spot in Korea from Kia last year (2006).
#1841 of 6098
Re: GM's marketing [imidazol97] by fintail
Jan 14, 2007 (2:02 pm)
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Replying to: imidazol97 (Jan 14, 2007 1:01 pm)

"but GM can make a car to slice off a part of that market that's not filled with people total enamoured of that particular car. That's what Lexus did. "
 
I agree with that, and the idea has a lot of merit. With the right planning it should still possible to create your own market or niche out of existing consumers, as Lexus did. The product just has to be right.
 
I bet a lot of Lexus drivers have no clue about the Toyota connection...that's proof of the marketing success.
#1842 of 6098
Re: GM's marketing [fintail] by imidazol97
Jan 14, 2007 (2:39 pm)
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Replying to: fintail (Jan 14, 2007 2:02 pm)

>Toyota connection...that's proof of the marketing success.
 
That is my point exactly. GM probably has spent nearly as much in advertising but hasn't been as effective as some other cars because of past image tainting in 80s and 90s and lack of willingness to cut the umbilical.
 
I still cringe when I recall the "My father's Oldsmobile" sequence of ads trying to get newer buyers who had been weaned into the Civic, Accord, Corolla, Camry, etc., cars out of those cars into an Oldsmobile.
 
Why were the wine glasses stacked in a pile on a Lexus hood so effective and the ball bearing rolling down a body panel crease so effective with the intended market? Why didn't GM pick a theme that would be equivalent for GM.
#1843 of 6098
Re: GM's marketing [imidazol97] by louiswei
Jan 14, 2007 (2:48 pm)
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Replying to: imidazol97 (Jan 14, 2007 2:39 pm)

Do you seriously think that Lexus' success is base alone on glasses stacked on the hood and ball bearing rolling down a body panel crease? Does it have nothing to do with its reasonable price, excellent quality and awesome dealer service?
 
Marketing is important no doubt but without a decent product to back it up it's pretty much worthless.
#1844 of 6098
Re: GM's marketing [imidazol97] by nvbanker
Jan 14, 2007 (3:25 pm)
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Replying to: imidazol97 (Jan 14, 2007 2:39 pm)

GM's ad agency were morons, or else GM management were in approving and selecting the ad campaigns especially for Olds. If Olds had put wine glasses on the hood of the Aurora, it may have attracted some Lexus owners - but when they saw how ugly the interior was, they would run away screaming, as I did. One, it's the car, two - the ad campaign of "not your father's Oldsmobile" was a complete flop and wrong direction to go. Dad's Oldsmobile was the most successful brand GM had, but they had to change it. You have to change - but if it ain't broke, maybe that's not the brand to change, or not to change that way. If GM would have paid more attention to the ball bearing test, they would be much better off today. Instead, they focused on alienating all of their current buyers, with "Not your father's Olds". Well, Dad quit buying Olds because it wasn't his car anymore, and bought a Grand Marquis instead.
#1845 of 6098
Re: GM's marketing [nvbanker] by sls002
Jan 14, 2007 (5:10 pm)
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Replying to: nvbanker (Jan 14, 2007 3:25 pm)

The Aurora's interior plastics were bad looking. Worse than the CTS's. I think that this is where Cadillac (GM too) still needs to improve. The SRX interior is nicer looking, but still could improve in subtle ways to seem more luxurious.

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