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Automotive News & Views What if you were in charge of GM?
874 messages, Last post on Oct 28, 2009 at 10:20 AM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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If, as everyone believes, that Toyota has the correct business model, then here is how I'd restructure GM. I'd match Toyota model for model: Toyota = Chevrolet Yaris = Aveo Notes: Ick. Aveo, while priced right, really doesn't compete. I'd rather federalize the Corsa, convert a plant here in the states to build it, and be competitive. Corolla = Cruze Notes: With the right engines, this is quite possibly a shoot out. The 1.4L turbo engine has the possibility of being world-class in terms of power and efficiency. Matrix = Vibe Notes: A no-brainer, other than rebadging the Vibe as a Chevy. Same car, same plant, though I wonder how long Toyota will want to continue this partnership. Camry = Malibu Notes: As I see it, the Malibu is already as good as, if not better than, the Camry. Not much to do here. Solara = G6 Coupe Notes: A niche market. Improve the build quality of the G6, rebadge it as a Chevy and sell 20-30,000 per year. Same with the convertible version. Avalon = Impala Notes: Rebadge the Impala as a Caprice or, as an alternative, rebadge the current Buick Lucerne as a Chevrolet. Prius = Volt Notes: Figure out how to bring the Volt to market without having it cost $2-3 billion for development. Make it a unique body style - the current pictures of the Volt make it look like the Cruze. I think folks are starting to equate hybrids with 5-door hatchbacks (Prius, new Honda Insight). Venza = SRX Notes: Decontent and rebadge the SRX as a Chevy to compete. Tacoma = Colorado Notes: Update the powertrains and build quality in the Colorado to be competitive. Tundra = Silverado Notes: Nothing to do here; Silverado is already competitive. RAV4 = VUE Notes: Drop the Equinox and rebadge the VUE as a Chevrolet. Next iteration of the VUE needs to lose several hundred pounds. FJ Cruiser = H3 Notes: Like the Solara, a niche market. May not matter, as I believe the FJ is slated for extinction. Highlander = Traverse Notes: Not quite direct competitors, but close enough. 4Runner = ??? Notes: With the demise of the TrailBlazer, there really isn't a direct competitor available from GM. Should there be? Sequoia = Tahoe Notes: None; Tahoe is competitive. Land Cruiser = Suburban Notes: Again, not a direct match up, but could be established that the Suburban is the "ne plus ultra" of the SUV set. Sienna = none Notes: GM has abandoned the minivan market. Why not bring over a people-mover from the European market and try again? I need to think about the GM equivalents to Lexus (Buick or Cadillac) and Scion (Saturn?) and will post them later. |
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Replying to: gagrice (Dec 03, 2008 7:32 am) You don't have to worry about a "looming" recession. It's here. November Sales Numbers are grim, but MINI is actually UP and Subaru is down just a few percent, and Lincoln is in a single digit decline, while most are down 30-40%. I wonder what MINI and Subaru and to some extent Lincoln are doing right to hold the line here? Anything that GM could emulate? |
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 03, 2008 7:52 am) And Subaru happened to introduce the new Forester at exactly the right moment, and it just happened to be an unprecedented hit. They have stolen Toyota customers for sure this year. But also their own customer base hasn't been too badly affected so far, at least not in California. It's mostly teachers, college professors, and their ilk that buy Subarus right? Subaru certainly has not had to pour on the incentives in the latter half of the year as the domestics and Toyota have. If I were a GM manager I wouldn't copy Toyota's lineup, they are down just as much as the market this year. All the biggest carmakers are bound to have a rough time in this type of economy. But if this current plan they have just released is the best my company can muster, I would resign today. This isn't a plan for major reform, it's just a slightly modified version of business as usual.
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Replying to: nippononly (Dec 03, 2008 8:09 am) MINI is just unique. There's nothing like it out there. You don't comparative shop a MINI. You either buy it or you don't. |
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Replying to: nippononly (Dec 03, 2008 8:09 am) A pretty good size subie dealer closed their doors a couple weeks ago in the boston area, that was a suprise. If GM wants to turn around their company in the near term, offer two brands: GM cars and GM trucks. from the GM aveo  , to the GM corvette, from the GM traverse to the GM suburban. Offer a escalade option on the suburban and the rest of the caddy lineup can fold into the new GM car division. Sorry, but the caddy brand doesn't have any prestige in the real world anymore (1 successful car model (the CTS) cannot sustain a whole division). Oh, while we're at it, give real names to cars, not acrynoms |
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toyota, honda and nissan all have products that beat them in that arena. They should be driving what they made best and show the american public (they desperately need their support) that they do make products that trump the foreign competitors. tricky rick could've arrive in an acadia or a regular malibu, mullay could use a flex or mks. the chrysler guy should just barrel in in a challenger srt8 or a wrangler. Hire a hollywood script writer and have a press conference/photo ops outside the capital steps to tell the american people here are only some of the great products that WE produce and more innovations are on the way, but we need you, the american people the support.......yadayadayada. In hindsight, the ceos could've also use their own pocket change and purchase a 15 minute primetime slot to ask for the american people's support, ala obama. Definitely put in a subtle patriotic theme in the infomercial. I gaurantee the big wigs at honda and toyota would pee in their pants if the above scenario was adopted by the detriot 3. for the consultant fees, pls contact me via my email for wiring instructions
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Replying to: nwng (Dec 03, 2008 10:26 am) |
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Replying to: nwng (Dec 03, 2008 10:26 am) 
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 03, 2008 7:52 am) I see people losing their homes as a MUCH bigger problem than auto sales slump. I think VW is doing better than most. Especially their Jetta TDI. As far as the recession goes. I don't see any less people on the highway or in the malls. They may not be buying a new car every three years and flooding the used car market like the last 3 years. The simple truth is we were using home equity and cheap credit to buy cars we really did not need. If I was in charge of GM I would take a long look in the mirror and question the gene pool I was spawned from.
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So i'm currently in the market for a new vehicle, and while i'm not "objectively" opposed to purchasing american, there is nothing that I can reason myself into buying. Chrysler= Hideous resale value, low safety ratings, less than average consumer satisfaction and number of problems. Love the design of the charger though. Chrysler's designs DEF. have more edge than the other two, the quality and refinement just needs to improve , together with the safetey. Ford= if I wanted a truck, they'd be great. Unfortunately I don't. I also don't want an explorer. Or escape. Its not that they're ugly, they just haven't changed in appearance since the 1990's when my parents owned two explorers. I know they've evolved, but its just tired looking. I would love to buy a lincoln, just can't get one for $25k (my budget). I could almost afford the MKZ, but gee, when you look around the lot, it feels like an overpriced fusion. The actual fusion? its alright, just vanilla looking. Bland. The focus? No, im not in college and more, and there are plenty of other cars in that segment more attractive for the same money. I love the EDGE crossover, but hello? 17 MPG in the city? Really ford? And I also love Mustangs, but thats a niche product, not a mass appeal product. I actually like Mercury's, but unfortunately in my market mercury has been farmed out to a nissan dealer who chooses not to really carry any mercurys. GMC= I actually really appreciate some of the newer designs. The roadsters are nice. The smaller SUV's are alright. The malibu is alright. But what is their youth/young adult brand? Saturn and Pontiac? I trust Saturn 'SOMEWHAT'... I just remember the plastic panel poverty cars they were when I was a teenager.. they should be cheaper for the feeling they give you. As for Pontiac ? Where to begin. My babysitter had one when I was a kid that all the buttons fell off the dash, the door handles broke inside , the windows stopped working, and the speedometer failed. My mom had one that had transmission failure at several thousand and a fuel system problem that no one could solve. In 2004, my friend had a 2001 that to get it to crank she would open the hood and ram a stick in the engine. Then theres that terrible guy I use to know who couldn't get a date to save his life.. he bought one every two years. The newer pontiacs are designed well (atleast the ones that aren't copies of other models) , but, the brand recognition , for me as a serious targetable car buyer for the next 20 years, is hideous. They should ditch the pontiac logo and the name and just come up with a new youth brand... impress me. I don't mind knowing GM made my car, but I can't deal with the garbage reputations so much of their nameplates created for me growing up. My summation to all this? Target the 20 and 30 year olds. Stop being conservative with designs, and don't be afraid to ditch your "Legacy" plans and brands .... if american's liked you and what you stand for, the bailout wouldn't be a question |
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