GM's Hummer brand under review for sale.

[Ambalanche]

All the reports I read yesterday about Chevy's new small car said unveiling this fall and production next year. This article says production mid 2010. They need it for next spring, not a year later.

[paul8488]

Originally Posted by osv_alero

Saturn is the perfect retail outlet for being "green". They already attract that type of customer.

As far as Hummer is concerned; we should have all expected it. It produces a bad image for GM in general. By dropping Hummer and introducing some great smaller cars, maybe GM can convince the public they do make great cars.

Saturn is a mixed bag. The Vue is one of the thirstiest small CUVs out there. It's quite a heavy hog for a relatively small vehicle. The Outlook is economical compared to BOF SUVs, but it's still not a 'green' vehicle, per se. The Cobalt XFE gets better mileage than the Astra. If Saturn is going to be a green brand they need a better focus.

[Ambalanche]

Originally Posted by Perian

Link: http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080603/gm_sh...ers.html?.v=11


He also said the iconic Hummer brand may be discontinued.

"

So it MAY be discontinued. Why even say anything unless it's an announcement. Well Hummer sales will tank even more now, who want's to buy something they JUST heard the company CEO say MAY be discontinued?

[1487]

is the cobalt replacement going to have a new name? Why are they not calling it Cobalt? I think they should stick with the name.

[ARCANGEL]

i agree with osv alero saturn should be the green leader

i cant wait to see this car....and the production beat

[tgagneguam]

Originally Posted by Cortazzo

You beat me to it! It would be a real kick in the pants if oil prices took a big tumble by years end. But it's good to see Ford and GM quickly change their business to adapt to consumer preference and need.

I would hardly describe this move by GM (or Ford) as "quick."

Originally Posted by ByTheLake

Hard news to hear. We can debate whether this eventuality should have been evident a few years ago, but that's not helpful. GM can't continue building products that aren't in demand.

Sounds like it's going to be a few years before some of this new small car product hits the streets. Lean times are here for sure.

I was listening to Wagoner's presentation on XM Radio this morning. The Hummer situation isn't a surprise, really. While I honestly had an eye on that H3 pickup down the road, the Hummer brand is tough to justify today, unless it receives a significant lineup change, and that would take serious funds. I'd say the H2 is dead, and without that H4 we've all wanted to have, how can Hummer survive on the H3 alone? It can't. Let it go.

Yes, it is worthy of a debate to consider whether or not the CEO of the second largest automaker made this decision quickly or dragged his feet. It has to do with accountability. Just like Wachovia's board yesterday replaced Ken Thompson due to his lack of insight into the mortgage "crisis" and resulting large losses, just as Citi thought there were better leaders than Prince, so should GM's board regularly review Wagoner's decisions and ensure that he's the best captain for this ship. Daily it's hard to say he is. I think their complicit nature is in part responsible for GM's continued struggles.

The above being said, it does sound like the Volt-GM's EV1 2.0-is a much better, longer-term view of meeting customers' demands for greater FE... now that GM finally decided to getting around to addressing FE in a substantive way.

[Slowrider5]

He says a market shift to smaller vehicles is permanent.

Don't quite agree with that bold statement. True for the next decade or so, probably. But nobody really knows what will happen in the future, especially beyond the next decade. I wasn't alive in the 70's, but I bet a lot of auto execs were saying a shift to small cars was permanent back then during the last oil crisis, and look what happened.

There will be a correction in the oil markets probably before the end of the year. But, even when that happens, it will only start on another trajectory back up, albeit not quite as fast as the when we're on now (note to self: but oil funds when that happens). The fundamentals of supply/demand, it's more expensive to get the oil that's left, and oil needs of emerging markets are still there, they're just not as bad as speculators would like us all to believe.

[tripowergto]

Didn't the recent CAW agreement with GM guarantee the Oshawa truck plant would keep running? OUCH!

[TruckMan]

I bet all the Hummer dealerships with the brand new Hummer buildings are going to be pissed hearing this. I personally wouldn't kill Hummer just yet. I'd get rid of the H2, improve fuel economy of the H3 to best-in-class range, and add the H4 with great mileage to compete against the Wrangler.

[ARCANGEL]

Actually Truckman your idea could be feasible if they believe the case of an H4 is worthy. but with sales of the H3 being so low i don't know if they will.

[ronald mcretard]

YAY! Bye bye Hummer!!!

[windvale]

Originally Posted by tgagneguam

Yes, it is worthy of a debate to consider whether or not the CEO of the second largest automaker made this decision quickly or dragged his feet. It has to do with accountability. Just like Wachovia's board yesterday replaced Ken Thompson due to his lack of insight into the mortgage "crisis" and resulting large losses, just as Citi thought there were better leaders than Prince, so should GM's board regularly review Wagoner's decisions and ensure that he's the best captain for this ship. Daily it's hard to say he is. I think their complicit nature is in part responsible for GM's continued struggles.

I know this is hearesy around here, but when I think of how the leadership of Toyota and Honda have positioned their companies to succeed in the current environment and the future with cars like the Fit, Civic, Yaris, Prius, etc., - and then I think about how GM's leadership has wasted time/resources/money repositioning deck chairs on the Titanic (i.e. the G8, Outlook, Lucerne, H3, etc.) I'm totally disgusted.

Oil prices spiked during Katrina 3 years ago this summer, and Rick and the boys are just figuring this stuff out now ???

I fear that the sequel to "Who Killed the Electric Car" may just be titled "Who Killed GM"...

[WishIhadatruck]

For Hummer to survive it will need to go smaller. H4, more fuel efficient H3, get rid of the H2, H1 is already gone.

It seems like there is a lot of conflicting info. on the timing of the next small car at Lordstown. Sooner is better. Too bad it isn't here already!

[TruckMan]

Originally Posted by ARCANGEL

Actually Truckman your idea could be feasible if they believe the case of an H4 is worthy. but with sales of the H3 being so low i don't know if they will.

The problem with the H3 is that it is heavy, slow, and gets horrible FE. Lighten it up a bit (maybe shorten it also?), improve aerodynamics, and drop in an improved powertrain that gets 25+ mpg (include MT) and you have a replacement for the Envoy. GM needs a small SUV with 4x4.

If the H4 is small and light enough, it could also get great FE with a 4-banger and MT.

[Uzzy]

We just heard this at work. Not good news for us. Not the least bit surprising though. GM needs to cut the fat. My own Silverado was built in Oshawa.