GM + Chrysler: What it may look like post-merger

[dracleath]

Makes no sense at all...


The only good thing there is Jeep.

300/charger sells much more than the G8, but this is because the G8 is a virtually unadvertised product in an off-brand with limited production, zeta as a platform is far superior. And regardless who really gives a crap about large 4 door RWD platforms in the current market? If GM really wants to compete in that market they just need to make a zeta chevy sedan to go along with the camaro and push it and bring over the park avenue. Much cheaper than trying to mess around with chrysler.

The dodge truck line is nice and all, but Chevy/GMC already beats them in sales IIRC.


It would seem to me since chevy has competing product lines for almost all of chrysler's brands, the better thing to do would be to wait for it to crash, and then buy jeep for cheap in the aftermath and merge it with hummer.

Maybe they want to keep Chrysler out of Nissan's hands, but why? Let Nissan spend the money on them if that's what they really want to do.

[CrunkedRL]

Partnership I'm for, but an acquisition sounds absolutely ludacris. This would create more polarizing redundancies for two companies who are already struggling to turn a profit.

[Stéphane Dumas]

Originally Posted by adplusone

The smartest dude in autoblog land posted early this week...

http://www.autoextremist.com/

I just read it and I quote the last paragraph

And one final thought: To demonstrate just how crazy things are getting in the Motor City, I will bring forth a new scenario that’s emerging, and that is that the GM-Chrysler talks have ended for good (the word was that they were only put on “hold” due to the burgeoning financial crisis). Instead, GM has already moved on to renewed, serious discussions with Carlos Ghosn about the possibility of merging GM’s global operations with Renault-Nissan.

Needless to say, we have a developing situation here in the Motor City. I just hope we can survive the hysteria long enough to sort it all out.

I guess we might know who'll could be a possible successor to Rick Wagonner at the post of CEO/chairman...

[Firebird00]

I wonder how much influence Bob Lutz is having on this merger rumor? He did work for Chrysler after all.

[Caleb02]

Originally Posted by Uzzy

No you don't.

really can you prove it. Just think about honda, toyota, Nissan, Renault, bmw, VW all have their mass market division with full lines named after them. So then why should not gm then do the same by renaming Chevy to GMC and thus cutting out duplication of the GMC Truck division. Lets face it i have said what other companies have done. Just look at honda, vw, ford, nissan, renault, fiat, bmw.... so prove why my idea is not a good one, after all these others have done it. And I seem to remember that gm wants all those small gm badges on the fribt quarter panels so that people know what is gm. My idea takes that to its next step. Chevy is no longer needed it should be intergrated into GMC. Keep gmc trucks/suvs then keep the chevy cars/cuvs and then you got a new GMC full line of cars with a big boetie logo with gmc in the center of the bow tie....

[AMERICA 123]

GM plus Renault / Nissan....... wow..... hmmmm.............. that would be a game changer for sure................ yep, and without a doubt Toyota would feel it the most .

Bottomline, all OEM's gotta' be looking at just about every possible combination - with just about everybody else at least on paper.

Even a strong strategic alliance .......

Lets just go all the way in.

GM / Renault Nissan - then add Chrysler.

Then kick Nissan loose.

Or something similar.

[RedVee8]

So this GM + C merge thought....
is this why GM have been so picky about no Firebird..... because they are getting Challenger?
is this why GM killed the minvans...... because they are getting the Chryslers?
is this why no RWD Lucerne replacement or Park Ave...... because they are getting the 300C?

[Buick Riviera]

Gm sells these rest of GMAC and doesn't merge will chrysler at all.

[Odin]

while it may be a good idea to share platforms behind the scene, mergering the two companies together is so stupid it's not funny.

[civilzues]

Sweet, I wonder how many Lamdba's variants we are going to have after this is done. I am hoping for around 15!

[xjug1987]

I simply cannot understand what Chrysler would bring to GM? GM has more brands now, then they can possibly manage. Creating business models for Buick, Pontiac, Saturn, Saab, Hummer and GMC is tough enough, but add Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler to the party is a death wish in my opinion. The old scenario of Chevy, Pontiac, Olds, Buick, Cadillac is dead. It’s now Chevy -> (Buick) Cadillac ala' Toyota -> Lexus. Chevy needs to compete in every category with Toyota, and Buick runs with Lexus. Cadillac is separate focusing on BMW and Mercedes in every capacity. Pontiac is a historic and beloved brand but will it really become the "poor man’s BMW" especially with cars like the Vibe, G3, G5 and the competent G6? The G8 is the only serious car in the mix. The Dodge Challenger is beautiful car but will not sell in the numbers predicted. The Charger is dated and thirsty, but a nice car. The 300 is an icon, but how much longer? The Mini Van Mkt is shrinking and Honda builds the best one out there. GM Trucks are now #2 to the new Ram, but again, why? GMAC was once the cash cow for GM, but no longer. Again, GM is struggling with what it has.

Dodge had nothing to offer GM, the Chrysler 300 would compete with Buick and is the only car in the stable of any merit, and is aging. Is the Jeep name, the 300, the new Ram and the Mini Van worth this? Jeep would be the new Hummer and couldn't competent Mktg do this for Hummer now, anyhow? Does GM really need this? Note to GM: Concentrate on your current plan!

[xjug1987]

Originally Posted by Caleb02

really can you prove it. Just think about honda, toyota, Nissan, Renault, bmw, VW all have their mass market division with full lines named after them. So then why should not gm then do the same by renaming Chevy to GMC and thus cutting out duplication of the GMC Truck division. Lets face it i have said what other companies have done. Just look at honda, vw, ford, nissan, renault, fiat, bmw.... so prove why my idea is not a good one, after all these others have done it. And I seem to remember that gm wants all those small gm badges on the fribt quarter panels so that people know what is gm. My idea takes that to its next step. Chevy is no longer needed it should be intergrated into GMC. Keep gmc trucks/suvs then keep the chevy cars/cuvs and then you got a new GMC full line of cars with a big boetie logo with gmc in the center of the bow tie....

Chevy needs to compete with Toyota in every market. GMC is the redundant Brand here. Its the same line up for for folks that don't want to drive a Chevy but can't afford a Caddy. GM has lots of emotional and historic Brands, and needs to carefully manage them from a Marketing perspective, or they will and should die off.

[AMERICA 123]

Actually .......... if GM and Chrysler did happen as some sort of merger ........... in the first phase of it the smart and easy thing to do would be to


1.) Combine GMC / Chevy Trucks ie GMC hi trim and Chevy 'low' - and then down the road fold in Dodge Trucks.


2.) Do some of the obvious product dropping, product shifting - and powertrain aligning at GMC/Chevy Truck and Dodge Truck.



**********************************

One nice thing here, is this could deal with the 'over feeding' and 'over reaching' of Chevrolet within GM.

Chevrolet could become the true bottom entry point for both Chrysler and GM - with Dodge becoming less of a 1/2 assed attempt at a full line producer that starts at the lowest possible price points.

The Chrysler brand used properly over time, could also help support ( with Buick ) - Cadillac going up market a usable distance as well.

Btw, as of Friday, GM's board is cool to the whole idea and Cerebus continues to talk to whoever - funny that GM board reaction wasn't widely reported until later Sunday.

Mildly disturbing in all this is that GM talked to Ford about if they should talk about a merge - that idea has never had the legs to go any distance so why bother - not good judgment.

[ConcordeNick]

Originally Posted by LONGHORN

Chrysler cars that SELL (read the 300) will move to Buick.

Minivans to Chevy and Dodge looses theirs.

Dodge will take the place of Pontiac.

Pontiac and GMC gone.

Makes sense to me and may work. The only thing in the way, a year with presidential elections and some pissed off Dealers who just spent some major coin to refurbish or build new Chrysler,Dodge and Jeep dealerships.

No. If Pontiac goes, I'm gone too. I would never accept a Dodge as a substitute.

Nick

[moon111]

Originally Posted by ConcordeNick

No. If Pontiac goes, I'm gone too. I would never accept a Dodge as a substitute.

Nick

GM products have been poison for me. Mopar products have lasted for me.
Every maker has good and bad models. And sometimes people's opinions have developed from experiences with these vehicles. Will a merger just turn away GM and Mopar customers from these 'tainted' products? Someone who's been burnt by one brand isn't going to suddenly fall in love with it because it's been rebadged.