GMAC to be rebranded Ally Financial; GM seeks to retain GMAC name for auto financing

[nadepalma]

GMAC brand may survive for GM financing
Chrissie Thompson and Donna Harris
Automotive News -- May 4, 2010

DETROIT -- General Motors Co. is talking with GMAC Financial Services about keeping the GMAC brand for GM financing when the lender changes its name Monday to Ally Financial Inc.

“The brand is owned between us,” Mark Reuss, president of GM North America, said today in an interview. “If the brand equity is something that we want to go after there and keep intact, then we will.”

GMAC has a license from its former parent to use the name for its automotive operations until 2016. GMAC told dealers yesterday that its automotive operations would continue to do business under the GMAC name for the foreseeable future.

Reuss said the relationship between GM and GMAC definitely has changed since GM gave up complete ownership in 2006, primarily because GMAC does not buy as many financing deals as it used to. But he said that's in large part because of the effects of the global financial crisis on GMAC, which has received more than $17 billion in U.S. bailout money since December 2008.

“If we ask GMAC to help us with different points of being competitive where we want to compete, then they go help us do that,” Reuss said.

MORE AT: http://www.autonews.com/article/2010...#ixzz0n1JAuHHz

[igotzzoom]

Hasn't the bank branch been operating as Ally for a while? Am I the only one that's seen all the commercials with the kids in a focus group-type room with the smarmy, conniving "rules" guy that spoils the party?

[Burnout Czar]

Keeping the GMAC name for GM auto financing is a good idea.

NSAP, What are GM's plans for creating a new auto financing arm? Will they just take GMAC's auto financing division back over?

[ne_one]

Hasn't the bank branch been operating as Ally for a while? Am I the only one that's seen all the commercials with the kids in a focus group-type room with the smarmy, conniving "rules" guy that spoils the party?

Those commercials are aired frequently in Canada as well. GM should hire these guys.

http://bentonpaul.blogspot.com/2009/...mmercials.html

[V8GMT360 Guy]

Hasn't the bank branch been operating as Ally for a while? Am I the only one that's seen all the commercials with the kids in a focus group-type room with the smarmy, conniving "rules" guy that spoils the party?

Indeed. I LOVE the Ally commercials. "See the red truck? Play with it for 5 seconds so I can switch it out with this cutout from an old cardboard box."

[kylepo]

GMAC will survive in name only...for a period of time. Not forever. Why should it? GMAC is making money again!!!!! Bout time after the billions injected......This company is currently in a sort of limbo at the present time.....

[2002 Caddy]

Indeed. I LOVE the Ally commercials. "See the red truck? Play with it for 5 seconds so I can switch it out with this cutout from an old cardboard box."

My favorite is the one where the kid is hunting Easter eggs while the guy sticks them in his pocket and eats one.. with this mouth full of chocolate he say "Egg management fee"

Classic!

[Mustapha Mond]

I didn't realize Ally was actually the remains of GMAC until just now. They're off to a good start, I too enjoy the ads with the kids who are too smart to be tricked. The Royal Bank could take instruction from them.

[Bravada]

OK, so now they will help to get you thin but give you diahrrea (by making your installments so high you'll have to economize on food????)

Now, I hope GM keeps the GMAC name, maybe it's no Oldsmobile, but it's a part of the global automotive history and GM's heritage. I wonder about Masterlease though. That's a very poweful brand, but in this part o the world there was an MBO of the Masterlease organization (along with the name) from GMAC...

[kylepo]

OK, so now they will help to get you thin but give you diahrrea (by making your installments so high you'll have to economize on food????)

Now, I hope GM keeps the GMAC name, maybe it's no Oldsmobile, but it's a part of the global automotive history and GM's heritage. I wonder about Masterlease though. That's a very poweful brand, but in this part o the world there was an MBO of the Masterlease organization (along with the name) from GMAC...

Masterlease....Huh? Is that a Europe thing? Got me stumped....

[mgescuro]

I didn't realize Ally was actually the remains of GMAC until just now.

Yeah. Me too. I heard about Ally. I knew it was new. But I never dug around to figured out who they were.

[kylepo]

Yeah. Me too. I heard about Ally. I knew it was new. But I never dug around to figured out who they were.

Really? I feel like there is no way I'm one of the only ones...that knew the Give-Me-A-Check and ally connection.

[igotzzoom]

While we're on it...who else likes the "Pony" commercial where he gives one girl a toy pony, and then calls out a real one for the other girl?

[tgagneguam]

I don't necessarily care about the name, but it does seem to make sense for the General Motors Company to operate a wholly-owned subsidiary for auto financing. This should be a priority, actually.

Really? I feel like there is no way I'm one of the only ones...that knew the Give-Me-A-Check and ally connection.

You aren't. When I was searching for a new place to park my emergency fund, I looked at Ally, among many others. I didn't know who Ally was, and a quick google search gave me the answer.

While we're on it...who else likes the "Pony" commercial where he gives one girl a toy pony, and then calls out a real one for the other girl?

Love this commercial. I think this one, as well as a couple of their other ones, are really well done. Simple messages that I think connect well with potential customers.

[jbartley]

love those commercials...HATE the name and colors.

Ally to me sounds and reminds me of Alli the diet pill...