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Automotive News & Views 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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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Apr 12, 2007 7:25 am) Yes, they are. However, if they don't take GM over this year or next, I don't forsee it happening at all, PROVIDED (insert big if here) GM's future models (Malibu, CTS, Impala, Camaro, and Enclave) are as good as their show car counterparts have been acclaimed to be.
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Replying to: gagrice (Apr 12, 2007 7:40 am) Better suited for the Dumb car names and GM's "Must Keep" Names discussions, but when y'all say DeVille or Fleetwood, I sort of know what you are referring to. I haven't connected the STS, SRX, SLX with the car bodies yet and likely won't unless I win one. |
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Replying to: cooterbfd (Apr 12, 2007 7:42 am) Yes, a resounding victory in the automotive press with new models would do GM a world of good right now, and by extension, boost Cadillac's image as well. Whether Toyota gets to be #1 in the world is sort of irrelevant. More important is its market share in the US, which is growing. |
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Apr 12, 2007 7:25 am) Nobody else can be Toyota (not even Honda), that's why everyone envies them. Nobody else can be Google, not even MS... One thing Cadillac could copy from Harley is to use more foreign parts and technology to boost reliability and credibility even further. Ford built supercar GT to showcase its wondrous technology. Only problem was its frame cracked. I read Ford should've bought some super hi-strength steel from this Japanese supplier, but chose not to, probably to cut costs. Harley stands as a perfect example. I'm always puzzled by the analogy. Essentially Harley builds antique cycles that it can sell at very high prices in very limited numbers. But don't ask them to run with modern Yamahas and Bugattis. On those motorcycle GP's shown on Speed, you never see any Harleys. If Caddy wants to be Rolls back in the 50's, build antique autos for very high prices, Harley might be a good example. But if Caddy wants to run with BMW and Infiniti, Harley holds no lesson whatsoever!
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Replying to: mariner7 (Apr 12, 2007 9:53 am) In 1988 Kawasaki was the third-largest brand, holding 13.9 percent of the market. By 1995 Kawasaki actually gained market share but was in fourth place among the six major brands, with 14.1 percent of the market. Yamaha was the third-largest player, holding 15.2 percent of the market in 1995, and Suzuki accounted for 13.2 percent of new motorcycle sales. German manufacturer BMW, with 1.6 percent of the total, was sixth among the top brands. Harley-Davidson, fifth in 1988 with 9.4 percent of the market, experienced an 11-point market-share increase over four years, moving into second place in the early 1990s. In 1995 Harley-Davidson still held second place, with 23.3 percent of the market. Motorcycle Info from Answers.com
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Even if GM as a whole brand can pull off bieng standard for the world again, it has a problem... As soon as its cars, profitability and market share start comming back up to a point where they can start to pay off there HUGE outstanding debts and recouperate, the Unions will demand more money, healthcare, and benefits. What will GM do? Its a much weaker GM than in the 50's and 60's. It cannot afford this sort of thing. THe cars GM has today, and especially those comming out are good, really good. THe problem is the unions, and GM's long term situation. Now, i heard there was some bill that would basically end non-union employment in the US, and our friends at the communist side of the istle promised to push it through. In that case, even toyota is screwed. But GM will go first, and Toyota alwayse has Japan. This is the Virus I'm referring to.
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GM needs to stop trying to make each and every line of cars a full lineup. They need to niche-ify themselves so that each brand covers a specific segment. For instance, Cadillac.(funny how that comes up - lol) - the CTS is and should be their smallest car. The next step down is actually Saab, which makes their small BTS in Europe(and sells terribly btw - less than 10K total to date, I think). So they keep Saab for the entry-level market. Buick has gone from 4-5 cars to two sedans and soon, by the looks of it, one SUV. Good for GM - trimming the fat, since nobody wants a tiny Buick when a perfectly good Pontiac will suffice. Honda and Toyota try hard to have as little overlap as possible and in some cases, just ignores a segment if they can't compete. Large trucks for a long time, for instance. Honda still doesn't have one. Toyota can't make enough Tundras to fill their demand by comparison. Of course, this gives GM and Ford fits, but competition is good since it forces them to improve, and Ford and GM are about as stodgy and slow to react as it gets. P.S. I'd take a Vulcan 750 over a Harley anyday. More reliable, smoother ride, and half the cost. But whatever Harley has going for it - I can't fault them. Their marketing is nearly perfect and there are loads of happy customers. |
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Replying to: plekto (Apr 10, 2007 10:17 pm)
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Replying to: poncho167 (Apr 12, 2007 1:21 pm) So... just ignore that market and let Toyota or whomever build the econoboxes(which basically make no real profit anyways compared to SUVs and luxury cars).
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Replying to: plekto (Apr 12, 2007 1:24 pm) Unfortunately, Cadillac has to rely on GM marketing strategy, which isn't so good right now...but still, better than it used to be, when there was no marketing strategy.
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