GM April 2008 Sales: Down 16.3%

[skylark68]

So why exactly hasn't GM spun off Saab yet to India?

[ScottS]

Originally Posted by SierraGS

Anyone notice the G8 numbers?

G8 - 2,126

Granted not big numbers, but consider the inventory is still being rolled out and this is an all new car for Pontiac and one few outside enthusiast circles know about - and gas prices are over $3 a gallon which do not help all new high performance sedans.

GM may have a hit on its hands, we should know by Labor Day when the inventory/awareness is better.

By the way the G8 outsold the G5 (2,030)and Cobalt sales were up as were smaller cars in general, so it's looking promising for the G8.

How does no one know of the G8 when Pontiac advertised it during every break of every game in the NCAA tournament?

[TORRED1]

Originally Posted by ScottS

How does no one know of the G8 when Pontiac advertised it during every break of every game in the NCAA tournament?

I only know about it because i am a enthusist, I did not bother to watch the NCAA tournament, so if that is the only place they ran comercials then I can see where a lot of people might not know about the car.

[BBDOS CV8]

Originally Posted by SierraGS

Anyone notice the G8 numbers?

G8 - 2,126

I wonder how many more they'd have sold if the manual were availble in both the six and eight, or even just the six? It's a much more engaging car (pardon the pun) as a manual!

Surprise surprise, offer people a decent car at a decent price and they buy it. It doesn't have to be a BMW or Mercedes, or have a gold-plated handbrake lever. Just a decent feel and comfort, equipment, build, safety, economy. The other good thing - They may not be making a bundle, on the G8, but they're all being sold at or very near MSRP, so better than having to put $3,4 or 5,000 on the hood of a car with higher margin to move it after a year to make way for new production.

I think GM is making money on each one - because if US is not, Holden is. I think what's making it pay is the US-Australia free trade agreement which makes the components (engines, trans) going one way and the cars going the other free of duties.

Again, how much would a brand new RWD car have cost GM NA to develop from scratch? Probably more than a $billion, and the chassis will have shorterned and expedited the Camaro's birth - so the real value of the import deal for G8s can't just be measured in the bottom line of profits on each one.

I'd go so far as to say - no Commodore/G8, no Camaro, no RWD future at all for GM, except for CTS gradually mouldering over the next decade on a stagnant undeveloped platform.

[LeSabre]

Originally Posted by ScottS

How does no one know of the G8 when Pontiac advertised it during every break of every game in the NCAA tournament?

The G8 is also being advertised in magazines. I think its mostly car magazines.

I would have to say that GM/Pontiac is not marketing this thing right.
They should be going all out like they did w/the Malibu & the Silverado!
They need the commercials on during prime time television so we see it soo much we get sick & tired of seeing the damn commercial....just like the Malibu & Silverado!

I say this despite my hard core distaste for this vehicle being a Pontiac.

[Bravada]

The G8's sales plan is all being realized w/o expensive TV advertising (although I've seen the ad with the video game, so there IS an ad), so I guess it's only good. There ios a limited number of cars GM can build and sell, so no need to splurge on advertising if you cannot really increase sales beyond a certain level.

I really don't think conventional advertising is what works nowadays - you need a bit of it for prominent products such as cars, though, to establish "notability". I'd much rather GM came with some innovative "alternative media" campaign, used word-of-mouth, guerilla, something interactive/community etc., especialy given the car is the niche vehicle it is.

[Vladimir1978]

Originally Posted by TORRED1

I only know about it because i am a enthusist, I did not bother to watch the NCAA tournament, so if that is the only place they ran comercials then I can see where a lot of people might not know about the car.

March Madness and the Final Four is among the top rated television programs throughout the whole year, primarily by males between the ages of 18-45. You know, the target market of the car. Most people in the target market have at least heard about the car by now.

[silvergoat2k6]

Astra sales are still pathetic...Saturn deperately needs a small, really economical car in the $12K-$15K range...and soon.

[paddlerat]

It looks as though the 08 MY is the end of the Envoy platform. As a sales associate we have been coached on selling the Acadia -no trouble there its a great vehicle, and the coming rebates on the end of the Envoy Trlblzr.

[CHASLS2]

Originally Posted by Ambalanche

I just can't wait to see what the rise in Cobalt sales is going to be like for May since they are dumping $3000.00 on the hood! Shouldn't this sell all by itself since they can now say it gets 36MPG?? I mean come on! It's not that old or bad of a car! GAS IS $3.50 PER GALLON NOW!! This car should be able to sell without rebates, or at least without 3K on the hood!

End of rant, back to your regularly scheduled thread.

I would die before i drove a cobalt or any 4 banger. I will keep my C6 a6.

[montrealvue]

Originally Posted by 377Z

Who's the dude in the avatar? I remember him from the Caravan/Voyager ads when they were first launched.

I guess back then making a van handle like a car was magical.

Doug Henning......cheezy magician from the 70's. Very appropriate for a Chrysler commercial

[Steel4ring]

I did my part to help in April.....bought a new Acadia.

[Patate]

Originally Posted by Steel4ring

I did my part to help in April.....bought a new Acadia.

No no no no no, that's not enough

Buy another one

[SierraGS]

Originally Posted by Vladimir1978

March Madness and the Final Four is among the top rated television programs throughout the whole year, primarily by males between the ages of 18-45. You know, the target market of the car. Most people in the target market have at least heard about the car by now.

That is an assumption.

I think the posts wanting GM to advertise the G8 like the Malibu is correct, every demographic should know about the G8 it is a bargain for what you get and I think will appeal to a much broader market than GM marketing does.

The G8 represents a total change of direction for Pontiac and MUST succeed, not only for the Pontiac brand but for GM being recognized for making a capable and more affordable RWD sport sedan, this will help CTS sales and pave the way for the Camaro and (hopefully) Buick Electra (Park Ave).

[Vladimir1978]

Originally Posted by SierraGS

That is an assumption.

I think the posts wanting GM to advertise the G8 like the Malibu is correct, every demographic should know about the G8 it is a bargain for what you get and I think will appeal to a much broader market than GM marketing does.

The G8 represents a total change of direction for Pontiac and MUST succeed, not only for the Pontiac brand but for GM being recognized for making a capable and more affordable RWD sport sedan, this will help CTS sales and pave the way for the Camaro and (hopefully) Buick Electra (Park Ave).

Some of you need a reality check as to how marketing works. You don't just throw all of your advertising at everybody with what in reality is a niche car in the grand scheme of things. The Malibu is an entirely different animal from the G8- one a FWD midsize sedan in a segment that sells over a million vehicles a year easily, the other a RWD full size sedan in a segment that is basically the Chrysler twins, and little else until the Genesis joins the party. Putting a ton of money into advertising for the G8 beyond the target market, males between 25-49 in this case, would be a waste of resources with very little to show in return. Just like it's rare to see a woman driving a Charger RT, it will be rare to see a woman driving a G8 GXP.

Pontiac will do the mass market 'advertise to everyone' approach when the next generation G6 comes to market. Pushing 30k+ RWD vehicles to everyone just isn't a sound marketing strategy.