Quote:
Originally Posted by Quickening
Saturn truly needs to become Opel. Why they are Americanizing the Insignia goes directly against GM's goal/plan. Position to go head on against VW.
Saab needs get new product. Play up its eco friendly engine, lifestyle etc. And go after Audi, Acura, Volvo. Luxury, FWD/AWD.
Cadillac focuses squarely on Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Fill the niches, and go after each and every sell of their sales.
Buick aligns more with Buick China and takes on Lexus. Doesn't try to fill every niche, but the core vehicles. And doesn't command the higher premium of Lexus.
Chevy. Jack of all trades. That goes after Toyota, Ford, Honda.
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I can't believe some of you people still think like this. This is
ABSOLUTE RUBBISH. Total garbage.
Lexus and Acura don't give a flying f about Volvo or Audi. Their target is straight at the top - MB and BMW. Acura is not there yet but I can assure, it isn't thinking about taking on Saab, but rather BMW.
The markets segments are very clearly defined - there's luxury and there's economy and various size/product classes within these broad separations.
What you're trying to do is to somehow fit all of GM's umpteen brands somewhere in the market. But these niches don't exist.
Lexus isn't a niche. Audi isn't either. Acura isn't a strong enough brand to command a price premium like Lexus, MB or BMW but that is its target. Not to be a SAAB competitor. To think in this manner is to think like Wagoner and his cronies - 1 year planning with no thought of the future.
There can only 2 or utmost 3 brands at GM. Saturn is useless. And thinking that rebadging it Opel is going to solve anything is pure dream. (Opel would do better than current Saturn though). Just because you're offering product worldwide, doesn't mean you have to offer it everywhere. That's not consolidation. Consolidation would be aligning Chevy, Opel and Holden for instance. Not a different brand for every one of your global brands.
Chevy and Cadillac stay. Then you pick between Pontiac and Buick. The rest are useless over the long run. (they'll shrink and GM will ultimately be forced to close them.)