GM Exec: "Look for expanded product lineups at Buick, Cadillac and Hummer"

[Perian]

Link: http://autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar.../70525060/1128

Jamie LaReau - Automotive News - May 28, 2007

ST. LOUIS -- Look for expanded product lineups at Buick, Cadillac and Hummer, says Mark LaNeve, GM's vice president of vehicle sales, service and marketing.

Speaking at a press event here to launch the Buick Enclave crossover, LaNeve said GM first needs to rebuild Buick's identity as a luxury brand. Then GM will add products to its U.S. lineup, he said.

"You've got this whole complete lineup in China that we can always leverage because the vehicles we develop for the Chinese market would certainly be interchangeable with plants in the U.S.," LaNeve said.

He said the Cadillac line has potential for new vehicles, too, as GM positions it as a global brand. The possibilities include a small crossover; a premium large, rear-drive sedan; a large crossover; and a sedan smaller than the CTS. GM currently sells the BLS, a compact sedan, in Europe.

"I'm not announcing these programs - these are all things we're looking at," LaNeve said.

He also said GM needs to expand Hummer's lineup. Hummer is expected to offer an H4, a Jeep Wrangler-sized vehicle, by the end of the decade.

Asked when GM would launch the H4, LaNeve said: "I'm not ready to tell you that. But there will be an expansion of the Hummer lineup in the future, probably multiple products beyond what it is today."

[chrisbenz]

Buick will be cars are that are made Chinese market. A Buick Park Avenue Super would help to bring the rang up class. Hummer is a good brand to expand. I think a Turck line would be good. Cadillac has a lot of gap it can fill and with Buick going north in price, they also, will need to offer higher end cars.

[smk4565]

Clearly we need a Cadillac Lambda also, GM needs more 8 seater SUVs. And investing money in more gas sucking Hummers, not in hybrids or fuel cells further shows GM's common sense.

I don't think GM will ever rebuild Buick's brand image, they are throwing good money after bad. The brand image has deteriorated too much. GM can barely keep the models they have current, adding several more will make it even worse. Cadillac does need a 7 series and a small car that doesn't suck like the BLS.

[megeebee]

Originally Posted by smk4565

Clearly we need a Cadillac Lambda

Why?


Why does Cadillac need a large FWD crossover based on a Saturn?

[Whitesky]

Originally Posted by megeebee

Why?


Why does Cadillac need a large FWD crossover based on a Saturn?

I think it was sarcasm.

[zete]

Originally Posted by smk4565

Clearly we need a Cadillac Lambda also, GM needs more 8 seater SUVs. And investing money in more gas sucking Hummers, not in hybrids or fuel cells further shows GM's common sense.

I don't think GM will ever rebuild Buick's brand image, they are throwing good money after bad. The brand image has deteriorated too much. GM can barely keep the models they have current, adding several more will make it even worse. Cadillac does need a 7 series and a small car that doesn't suck like the BLS.

A Lambda SRX would be good, but only in AWD trim. Those with enough money to buy an SRX or any luxury vehicle care little about the price of fuel or fuel consumption. It's all about image. But a FWD Cadillac, no.

As for Buick's image, it can change and I'm proof. Before the Enclave I'd never consider a Buick. Nothing in their lineup has enticed me, not for years. The Enclave does and I'll be getting one later this summer. I'm in my 40s and I'll pick the Enclave over something from Lexus or Acura, any day. It's simply elegant, something the Lexus and Acura aren't.

Plus, with 12,000 pre-orders for the Enclave I'm not the only one who's interested in it. I'm sure they're not all over 65. To me, the Enclave is like the CTS. It'll bring in younger buyers.

To see if the Enclave has changed things we need do little more than wait a few months to see what the average age is and who's buying them. I predict it'll be like with the CTS back in 2002.

[Cabana Boy]

Originally Posted by megeebee

Why?


Why does Cadillac need a large FWD crossover based on a Saturn?

Because nobody wants RWD CUV's.
Look at their sales of the SRX. Pathetic.

[gardnet1]

I bet Saab gets the next Lambda after Chevy, unless they end up getting an SRX based crossover. The Trailblazer line ends in 2010 which means that the 9-7 will need a replacement. I thought Cadillac had the go ahead for a medium-sized crossover.

Chevy Lambda will likely be called "Traverse". I'm not too big on that name but it is better than uplander. It's too much like transvestite. How about Tropix/Tropics, Carribean, Luau, Siesta, etc? Maybe even the San Antonio, San Angelo or Abiline to restake their claim as the brand of Texas and help lure in more Hispanics.

[Hoosier Red]

Originally Posted by megeebee

Why?


Why does Cadillac need a large FWD crossover based on a Saturn?

Uh.....reread the original post. Rebuilding Buick is just crazy talk at this point. I'm not talking about shutting it down, but they need to make it a niche player in the BPG lineup. Three cars at most. Same with Pontiac. Three cars at most. Then they need to focus, focus, focus until they begin to rebuild those brands. If they can restore some equity in the brands, then possibly in the future, there may be some room to expand.

You can't talk about moving Cadillac upscale after moving Buick upscale - you actually have to do it. Neither of those marques has earned the right to do that. When people start voting with their dollars, then they can move Cadillac further upscale.

Hummer? What a mess. I don't want to see a Compass equivalent in a Hummer dealership and I can see the possibility of a Hummer truck and Wrangler type vehicle, but what an albatross on the corporate image. Fair or not, it is. I've never seen anyone else advocate this, but I still think Hummer should have been a sub-brand of GMC as opposed to a standalone dealership. If it was part of the BPG enterprise, you could make an argument that there were some quirky and compelling vehicles across the lot.

[CmicasatheGreat]

Originally Posted by Cabana Boy

Because nobody wants RWD CUV's.
Look at their sales of the SRX. Pathetic.

I kno it's common practice to dog out GM sales...but the SRX is selling in almost the same numbers as the BMW X5...and since it's interior redo, has actually seen an increase in sales. The Audi Q7 has sold slightly less units than the SRX even tho it is a BRAND NEW model and gets a helluva lot more press.

[Toto]

Originally Posted by CmicasatheGreat

I kno it's common practice to dog out GM sales...but the SRX is selling in almost the same numbers as the BMW X5...and since it's interior redo, has actually seen an increase in sales. The Audi Q7 has sold slightly less units than the SRX even tho it is a BRAND NEW model and gets a helluva lot more press.

Only in the US. Look at the global sales numbers.

[kenman923]

I wonder what Buick intends to offer. I know that Cadillac can put themselves into a legitimate BMW fighter.

[SUPERBADD75]

Originally Posted by Cabana Boy

Because nobody wants RWD CUV's.
Look at their sales of the SRX. Pathetic.

the SRX sells pretty well for what it is, and it's a nice vehicle. it's way more athletic than an Enclave and i think that's important for a Cadillac. if anything, i think a Cadillac Lambda would step on the toes of the Escalade more than the SRX.

[usa1]

More Hummers. Yeah. That makes a lot of sense. Think of all the money GM has made from the Hummer. Good thing there. But wait, I wonder how many sales GM has LOST because Hummer has become the poster child for the anti-SUV crowd and it is completely out of sync with the today's market place and the global warming crowd. Anyone in GM think through all the sames Hummer may be driving to GM's rivals?

Mark

[DuSpinnst]

Originally Posted by Toto

Only in the US. Look at the global sales numbers.

Yea, I was actually surprised at the number of X5's and Q7's in Europe....