GM's Hummer brand under review for sale or major revamp

[benroethig]

Originally Posted by NfamousZ24

So when is Micheal Moore comming to Dayton to film "Rick and Me"?

When he needs more food money.

[vam29]

Why all the bias against Pontiac? I'm sure it has been, and will continue to be, much more successful than Saturn, assuming each receives equal support from GM . Even with the exta marketing promotion Saturn receives it will never replace Pontiac in Brand awareness. The big question is whether, in this environment, GM will still feel the need for two truck Divisions: Chevrolet and GMC. If GMC were to be discontinued some of the relevant product could be transferred to Pontiac making it a dynamite Brand. Chevrolet would then become stronger too and compete more effectively against the imports.

[mkaresh]

The weight difference could be because of how they have to locate the mechanism for a manual window. I've heard that door engineers hate manual windows because they're much harder to package.

And because you probably have to make the parts sturdier to deal with a manual input--much like the driveshaft often has to be thicker on a car with a manual transmission.

Now, some power windows might be manual mechanisms with a motor attached, while others are optimized to be power-operated. The latter are the ones that might be lighter. I have heard that power windows can cost less than manual windows.

[Zr1_Boi]

Originally Posted by jameskz28

NOOO!

This is GM's problem- they have no clue how to seperate the identities of thier brands. They are too busy trying to make every brand appeal to every customer. Maybe they need to spin off a couple badges. Stop trying to rebadge everything and give your brands some individuality.

Does anyone see Ferarri or Porsche or Lamborghini closing plants? No, and why? Because they know they have a niche vehicle and treat it as such. Make something that your target audience wants to buy and it doesn't matter what kind of gas mileage it gets OR how much it costs.

my point exactly gm is so stupid when its comes down to seperating brands from each other. thats the reason for them losing so much money on everything. hell ford is even closing that many plants hummer should have been fuel efficent or killed from the start the h2 isnt a niche or a volume seller. get the molasses out of your ass gm and analyze every brand before its to late and hummer wont be the only brand axed.......

[Saturn69]

Originally Posted by mbukukanyau

Killing hummer would be a mistake. What is the difference between a H3 and a stripdown G Waggen?

The difference? About $57,735 in the H3's favor. Why is killing a division that can't pull it's own weight and where sales are dropping and will continue to do so until gas becomes $0.50 per gallon again considered a mistake? Kill it, kill it a lot.

[TheGeneral]

http://www.cnbc.com/id/24945646

[throwback]

Originally Posted by windvale

Just a question...how is it that the new compact car to be built at Lordstown will be ready for next year ? It seems like this car has come out of nowhere, and will be ready in almost no time. It's not like we've seen spy photo's of this baby - or have we ?

Does anybody know ? Are they greenlighting this car through the develoment process the way they did the GMT-900's two years ago ?

I have wondered about this also. My guess is, those disguised prototypes we assumed was the next Cobalt was this new car. Although in the pictures the car does not look smaller than a Cobalt. How flexible is the Delta platform? Can the wheelbase be shrunk? Is this new car on Delta II? Many questions.

[Snafu_SS]

I think that Hummer should start focusing on more small, tough off road vehicles and get away from the H2 sized trucks.

News of an H4 is great...but think Wrangler and simplify it with SOLID AXLES up FRONT.

Theres a reason why so many people buy Jeeps to go off road...I wish that Hummer would cater to that market more than the expensive luxury market.

[CadiEldo67]

Originally Posted by paul8488

Closing Hummer is a start... but they should go an extra step and turn Pontiac into a new Geo.

I disagree completely. Pontiac has had a long history of performance, and I think that there is still a market for performance, it just can't be all big V8's. Turbo 4's and 6's are the way to go.

Saturn would be much better for a Green "Geo" brand as that is what Saturns are known for, being frugal. I think that taking Saturn upmarket was the biggest mistake since the demise of Oldsmobile. Pontiac should have gotten that spot, and they would be doing great by now.

[gardnet1]

What about Saab? Saab and Hummer numbers are about where Isuzu was last year. What are you going to do? Make an H4 mini-me. It would need to be rugged, luxurious and 2/3 size of a Wrangler while getting 25/30 MPG.

GM needs to focus on small/medium trucks, Transit-Connect alternative and restocking Buick, updating Cadillac. Pontiac has an identity crisis and GMC needs more crossovers. At current sales levels, Saab & Hummer are distractions. Sell them off to tater.

Too many brands and way too many dealerships. Selling Saab & Hummer, if only for a few billion will get rid of dealerships and allow management to focus on the core products. Just ask Ford who dumped about 500 dealerships and a small volume of cars to get rid of L-R, Jag & A-M.

[VibenPontiac]

Figure if Hummer is to be sold - even at a bargain price GM gets rid of the possible lawsuit issues it may face from dealerships.

That been said, even with shutting the brand down, any stand alone Hummer dealership could be converted to Cadillac or P-B-G dealerships.

[TriShield]

HUMMER is realistically the only GM brand with value (even with high fuel prices) and one that could be sold to another automaker, investors or back to AM General. Just like Jeep with Chrysler.

The rest of GM’s brands, even Saab, have basically zero value outside of GM to anyone else. GM’s restructure should include the closure of every brand except for GM’s core business which is Chevrolet and possibly Cadillac. HUMMER could exist fine with these two brands if GM properly managed it’s business.

Not only does it have the best customer retention, it also provides more profit to GM per unit sold than anything else they make (though that may have changed) and has a unique, premium image that can’t be replicated by any other GM division or other automakers, again like Jeep.

A leaner GM is a GM that can prosper in these times and can react quickly to shifts in the market. It’s a GM with new leadership, with just Chevrolet and Cadillac and with the resources and talent to make exceptional vehicles for both brands the capitalize on their rich histories and nameplates.

Sadly, I don’t think we’ll ever see this happen before Chapter 11.

[paul8488]

I got thinking tonight... why are there two midsize BOF truck / SUV platforms? In what world did GM think it was necessary to have the Colorado and Canyon on one platform and the Trailblazer and its 10 variations on another? Why can't their powertrains be interchanged? Why do different versions exist in Australia and Thailand and South America?

[paul8488]

Originally Posted by CadiEldo67

I disagree completely. Pontiac has had a long history of performance, and I think that there is still a market for performance, it just can't be all big V8's. Turbo 4's and 6's are the way to go.

Saturn would be much better for a Green "Geo" brand as that is what Saturns are known for, being frugal. I think that taking Saturn upmarket was the biggest mistake since the demise of Oldsmobile. Pontiac should have gotten that spot, and they would be doing great by now.

You're saying that as if Pontiac is going to get serious about Pontiac, but they're not. The G5, Vibe, and upcoming G3 are proof that GM doesn't see value in Pontiac as a performance brand. They've decided that Pontiac needs as much volume as possible... which makes it Chevrolet.

The Saturn Vue is a gas hog, and the Astra apparently isn't all that efficient either. Chevrolet has comparable vehicles that get better gas mileage. Hybrid sales are somewhere around 1000 for the year for all of GM, according to another article on GMi. If Saturn is the green brand then Buick is the hip brand.

[drees1]

This sucks I live in Janesville and sell Chevys in the area.. I feel for everyone in my area..